GroundReport | Somalia | Valuable and ‘Dangerous’ Cargo without escort

Valuable and ‘Dangerous’ Cargo without escort

Supermaster October 04, 2008

Kenya, 26/09

According to my opinion, it’s too brave to transport valuable and ‘dangerous’ cargo without any escort through such highly danger area. One cargo ship belong to Ukrainian is being seized by the pirates near Somalia off shore. The Ship, MV Faina is carrying almost 3 dozens of MBT (Main Battle Tank) T-72 onboard for Kenya government. The ship is also carrying armaments and ammunitions. Those weapon are part of Kenya purchase contract.

Ukraina asked for a help to solve this matter. United States dispatched its warship to the area. USS Howard is the US 5^th fleet patrolled nearby. The pirates asked for US$ 35 million in the beginning. The spokeperson of the hijack has made ultimate to Kenya government to pay ransom and warned EU not to interfere.

The Russian patched the frigate ship, Neustrashimy to the area. MV Faina have crews of 21 onboard consist with 17 Ukrainian, 3 Russia and a Latvian citizen onboard.

The pirates threatened will drown the tank but only holding for the armaments and ammunitions if Kenya failed to fulfill the ransom on time. EU and Africa were concern that this weapons will fall on the terrorism hand.

The cargo ship itself worted about US$ 30 million including its crew members. There is no confirmation if the pirates are unable to unload and operate the MBT on the cargo. If they do, those tanks are more valuable and great price in the black market rather than those small and medium armaments and ammunitions. According to information each tank will cost no more than US$ 4 million. Kenya government analyse that it will difficult for them to transport the tanks without any support from the huge ship. The authorites also said that they hide the seized ship before at one of the Somalia coves.

The Kenya daily nation recorded that they have been attacked 56 ships, 26 on hijacked and 14 in detained. This made serious steps should be taken to prevent it from happen in the future. There has been a talk by 19 countries from EU and east Africa to vanguished the pirates and secure the sea.