Somali pirates release hijacked Iranian ship (ship w/ mystery cargo)

AFP ^

[nuconvert]

TEHRAN (AFP) — Pirates released an Iranian ship that had been hijacked off the Somali coast in August, state news agency IRNA reported on Friday.

"The ship Dianat was released on Friday morning after seven weeks of ... negotiations with Somali pirates," the state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines said in statement carried by the agency.

"All 29 members of the crew are safe and sound and

[nuconvert]

Pirates Die Strangely After Taking Iranian ship

“A tense standoff has developed in waters off Somalia over an Iranian merchant ship laden with a mysterious cargo that was hijacked by pirates. Somali pirates suffered skin burns, lost hair and fell gravely ill “within days” of boarding the MV Iran Deyanat. Some of them died.

Andrew Mwangura, the director of the East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, told the Sunday Times: “We don’t know exactly how many, but the information that I am getting is that some of them had died. There is something very wrong about that ship.”

The vessel’s declared cargo consists of “minerals” and “industrial products”. But officials involved in negotiations over the ship are convinced that it was sailing for Eritrea to deliver small arms and chemical weapons to Somalia’s Islamist rebels.”
http://www.thetimes.co.za/PrintEdition/Article.aspx?id=851953

[TigerLikesRooster]

Was there some indication that something more suspicious is aboard than garden-variety cargoes?

[nuconvert]

see post #2

[TigerLikesRooster]

OK, I got you. Must be some nuclear material. Pirates must have made good money.

[nuconvert]

There is speculation that some cargo was radioactive material, maybe yellowcake.

[stylin19a]

the pirates got sick but the crew didn’t ?

[Cicero]

So, does this stuff now go to African terrorists? Not a good outcome, if so.

[BallyBill]

The pirates got burned on that deal.

Argghhhh!

[nuconvert]

It’s suspected that some of the pirates tried to break into sealed containers and were exposed to the contents

[nuconvert]

It goes wherever the ship goes. I would think we’re keeping an eye on where it goes.

[doc1019]

Crew knew to stay away from cargo … pirates didn’t know better and their curiosity got the better of them?

[ALASKA]

Pirates must have made good money.

I bet they won't have long to spend it.............

[Joe Boucher]

“All 29 members of the crew are safe and sound”?
B.S.
These crew members like our kidnapped Iranian Embassy staff will never be the same nor feel safe nor sound again.
Where is the U.N. to police this kind of crap???????????

[Army Air Corps]

The plot sickens.

[Netizen]

Mystery cargo? I thought it was carrying 37 Ukraine tanks.

[RDTF]

wow

[nuconvert]

That’s a Ukraine ship carrying Russian tanks.
Lots of pirates around

[Jet Jaguar]

ping.

[Netizen]

LOL I didn’t realize there was more than one ship in the control of pirates. What’s UN been doing? Isn’t that their job, to patrol the high seas? /sarcasm

[DCPatriot]

The cargo was safely sealed from the crew.

The pirates entered the hazardous containers to check out the booty.

[nuconvert]

Somali pirates attack two more ships in Indian Ocean

“The attacks, disclosed by the International Maritime Bureau’s Piracy Reporting Centre, bring the number of hijacks and attempted hijacks off the Somali coast to 69 this year alone. “

[IllumiNaughtyByNature]

TLR, probably not nuclear, but biological. If it was radiological the sats would have picked it up and it would have leaked (the news) out. My guess.

[mlocher]

Where is the U.N. to police this kind of crap???????????

Don't ask that question. The UN will want the US to take on this responsibility. Let each country look out for its own vessels.

[penelopesire]

So..where is the ship now? In Iranian hands? I thought the US had ships surrounding the vessel? I sure hope the US knows what was on the ship at least.

[Joe Boucher]

Why is America the worlds policeman?
Cause the U.N. is an ineffective, socialist, worthless group of nothing but a waste of MY MONEY.

[nuconvert]

“So..where is the ship now? In Iranian hands? I thought the US had ships surrounding the vessel?”

The Iranians have taken the ship back and are on their way, wherever.
I think the U.S. was watching the Ukrainian ship with the tanks onboard. (though hopefully we’re keeping an eye on where the Iranian ship goes too)

[penelopesire]

Thanks for the info. I sure hope we know what was on that ship and where it is docked.

[Godzilla]

ping

[mewzilla]

Related link....

Dirty Bomb! Iranian Dirty Bomb Attack Against Israel Thwarted by Somali Pirates?

And from this one...

Goan sailor released by pirates expected home within fortnight

Why the two week delay?

[mlocher]

the U.N. is an ineffective, socialist, worthless group of nothing but a waste of MY MONEY

A waste of my money too.

[mad_as_he$$]

Different ship.

[mad_as_he$$]

Last I heard the pirates held about 28 ships.