Posted on 05/05/2010 9:01:41 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
MOMBASA, Kenya (AFP) – Somali pirates seized control of an oil-laden Russian tanker in the Gulf of Aden early Wednesday, setting up a high-seas standoff with a Russian destroyer steaming to the zone.
The 230-metre (755 foot)-long Moscow University was heading east from the Gulf of Aden early Wednesday when it was boarded by pirates around 350 nautical miles off the Yemeni coast, the EU anti-piracy mission said.
The ship's Russian operator said the tanker had been on its way to China from the Red Sea with 86,000 tonnes of crude oil, believed to be worth around 50 million dollars.
The anti-piracy mission NAVFOR said the Marshal Shaposhnikov, a large Russian warship with two helicopters and an infantry unit aboard, was rushing to the hijack zone. The warship is part of the Russian fleet deployment to the international task force.
The 23 all-Russian crew of the Moscow University were unharmed, the ship's operators Novoship said.
"According to the latest information received from the master none of the 23 seafarers on board have been hurt, the vessel and the cargo sustained no damage," said Novoship, adding that communications with the vessel had been cut at 0450 GMT.
It said the attack began around 50 minutes earlier when the pirates opened fire and tried to board the vessel. The captain managed to inform naval forces in the region before his radio was silenced.
A company spokesman said later Wednesday that the pirates had yet to make a ransom demand. "No aggressor has made contact with us since the attack. No claims have been made," the Interfax news agency quoted the spokesman as saying.
...
Armed with AK-47s and grenade launchers, GPS navigation and satellite phones, pirates raked in an estimated 60 million dollars in ransoms last year.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Putin doesn’t care about bad press in the west. I wonder what sort of arrangements these Somali’s have made to provide for their families in the case if their sudden and spectacular deaths? They will need it.
I think they are about to learn a hard lesson about spitting in Pootie’s face
Ha!HA!....A Russki ship?
Oh yes, not that I want the pirates to take another ship, but now hopefully Russia will show Barry Jr how to deal with piracy on the high seas.
Putin should sink the tanker right along the Somali coast and give them an oil slick to remind them not to mess with Russia.
Did you ever think you would live to see the day when the Russian navy was the last best hope of western civilization?
Too many Pirates - not enough yardarms on todays ships to hang them from.
Maybe our fearless leader can use a this as a teachable moment and call Medvedev to tell him how to deploy Russian Navy Snipers to kill the Mutant Teenage Ninja Somali Coast Guard Reservists.
I am thinking about re-naming my FR handle from NavyCanDo to - Navy-TheyWontLetUsDo
Thanks. The Chinese operate in that area too since they buy oil.
“Did you ever think you would live to see the day when the Russian navy was the last best hope of western civilization?”
Not really...but, I could prolly give you about a dozen things going on now I never thought I’d live to see!
We know how to stop piracy. Anyone who has ever read a book on maritime history knows how it's done. Whether we choose to do so or not depends only on how much our collective conscience will bother us if we do opt to punish the havens. My part of that conscience is just fine with it but nobody asks me...
Isn’t it weird, only a few years since the wall came down, that we’re cheering for the Russians to do what no other country (including the USA), is willing to do???? Go Russia!
Huh?
U.S. Navy Frees Captain, Kills 3 Somali Pirates, April 13, 2009.
For Lord Barak, Russians screwed up Communism. What could they POSSIBLY know about fighting piracy?
Chum.
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