Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean in 2008. Islamist militants seized Somalia's port town and major pirate hub of Harardhere, residents said, raising concerns for three international ships and 60 crew held there. (AFP/US Navy/File)
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 ...
Not sure grabbing a Russian ship is a wise move or that it will be very profitable. Especially one headed for China. ;-)
Maybe we’re in for a teachable moment here.
Pass the popcorn !
I want to see footage of the Russians turning these guys into a fine mist.
Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean in 2008. Islamist militants seized Somalia's port town and major pirate hub of Harardhere, residents said, raising concerns for three international ships and 60 crew held there. (AFP/US Navy/File)
Incentives? They don’t need incentives.....it’a a way of life for them. Incentives are used when training animals, these people are below animals.
You know the Ruskies will take off the gloves.
Amazing that there is no organized mult-national military response to patrol these waters given the value of oil.
This won't end until naval forces start sending pirates home in body bags, after execution on the fantail. Barbarism should be treated barbarically. It's the only language the Somali's understand, or respect.
LOL i love that line!
Dear Somali pirates
how LONG can you tread water?
What could possibly go wrong w/ these guys calling the shots?
I’m guessing the Russians don’t Mirandize pirates.
I see the Water Gangbangers are at it again...
I remember when we were having our people kidnapped in the middle east. They thought, well we can do the same to russia. So they kidnapped some embassy official in lebanon. The russians response? They found out the group who held their diplomat. Went to the leaders house, took his brother and started to deliver body parts to the kidnappers in mason jars.
The diplomat was released that day.
Dead men walking...er...floating.
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