Ship Seized by Somali Pirates Carrying 33 Russian Tanks

Associated Press (excerpt) ^ | September 26, 2008

[HAL9000]

Excerpt -

MOSCOW — A Russian warship on Friday rushed to intercept a Ukrainian vessel carrying 33 battle tanks and ammunition that was seized by pirates off the Horn of Africa — a bold hijacking that heightened fears about the surging piracy and high-seas terrorism.

~ snip ~

[Hugin]

I doubt they could unload the tanks. The AA guns would be a bigger problem.

[SevenofNine]

OH OH

[Porterville]

I am more concerned about russian tanks...

What will Russians use to hold down their stacks of paper if they lose all of their worthless military equipment?

[Spktyr]

Stupid question, where were the tanks going?

[Spktyr]

If the vessel is a RO-RO type, which the Russians have started using in recent years, almost any port facility could unload them.

[spokeshave]

Tanks eh...better than thos Toyota “technicals”

[Hugin]

Don’t know if it matters, but is does say it was a Ukrainian ship, so I was assuming a standard merchant ship.

[BGHater]

Kenya.

[HAL9000]

Typically, Somalian stevedores just hoist them off the side of the ship and let them crash onto the shore.

[Hugin]

Stupid question, where were the tanks going?

Kenya.

[Hugin]

Damn, those must be some big stevadors!

[BGHater]

The Faina

FAINA

IMO NUMBER	7419377
VESSEL TYPE	RO-RO CARGO
HULL TYPE	DOUBLE HULL
GROSS TONNAGE	10.931 tons
SUMMER DWT	9.019 tons
BUILD	1978
BUILDER	LODOSE VARV LODOSE - SWEDEN
FLAG	BELIZE
MANAGER	TOMEX TEAM ODESSA - UKRAINE
OWNER	WATERLUX PANAMA

VESSEL DETAILS
CLASSIFICATION	KM* L3
	LAST SPECIAL SURVEY	2008 Aug 01
GENERIC	SPEED	15,0 knots
DIMENSIONS	BREADTH EXTREME	18,03 m
	BREADTH MOULDED	18,03 m
	DEPTH	13,35 m
	DRAUGHT	6,72 m
	FREEBOARD	6.640,0 mm
	LENGTH B/W PERPENDICULARS	152,50 m
	LENGTH OVERALL	161,37 m
	LENGTH REGISTERED	161,40 m
TONNAGES	NET TONNAGE	3.280 tons
LOADLINE	DISPLACEMENT (SUMMER)	13.650 tons
CAPACITIES	BALLAST	3.565 tons
	BUNKER	525,00 tons
	FUEL OIL	900,00 tons
CARGO	CARGO HOLDS	1*6550 m3 1*10025 m3
STRUCTURE	BULKHEADS	5
	DECKS NUMBER	2
ENGINE	ENGINE #	2
	ENGINE TOTAL POWER	7.654 KW
	PROPELLER	2-FIXED PITCHED SOLID PROPELLER
COMMUNICATION	CALL SIGN	V3EZ2
HISTORICAL INFO	PLACE OF BUILT	SWEDEN
	YARD NUMBER	179

HISTORICAL INFO
FORMER NAMES	since 2007 Apr 23  MARABOU
	since 2003 Apr 27  LOVERVAL
	since 1985 Nov 18  MATINA
	since 1983 May 30  VALLMO
FORMER FLAGS	since 1996 Aug 06  PANAMA
	since 1991 Jul 19  LUXEMBOURG
	since 1991 Mar 26  BELGIUM
	since 1983 May 30  SWEDEN

http://www.xvas.it/SPECIAL/VTship.php?imo=7419377&mode=CK

[lewislynn]

Great it looks like the piracy may soon end when the Russians find out who they are.

[valkyry1]

The Russian Navy will not be gentle with the Somali pirates.

[smokingfrog]

The Russian Navy can't fight-off a bunch of pirates?

Let the Pirate booty comments/pictures begin...

[uncle fenders]

Theres gonna be some gun play before this is over. I am predicting a DIRTY HARRY moment, where somebody is gonna make Putins day ;)

It could be fun to let them take it to their port, then sink it at the worst possible place in the channel.

[Buchal]

And what were the tanks to be used for in Kenya?

[FreeAtlanta]

Lol, welcome back to the world stage mother Russia. This is the world you are helping to create. Get on the side of good and right and we can reduce terrorism together.

[MediaMole]

Congratulations to the fathers of the new Somalian Army.