MV Faina

The MV "Faina" ( _uk. Фаіна) is a ro-ro cargo ship operated by a Ukrainian company that sails under a Belize flag of convenience.cite news | url = http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/29/content_10130741.htm | title = Confusion looms over ownership of seized Ukrainian military cargo | agency = Xinhua News Agency | date = 29 September 2008 | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008] cite web | title = Faina | publisher = Vesseltracker.com | url = http://www.vesseltracker.com/en/Ships/Faina-7419377.html | accessdaymonth = 04 October | accessyear = 2008] cite web | authorlink = http://centerforinvestigativereporting.org/ | coauthors = Center for Investigative Reporting | title = Hiding behind the flag | publisher = Frontline World | date = January 2004 | url = http://www.pbs.org/frontlineworld/stories/spain/belize.html | accessdaymonth = 04 October | accessyear = 2008]

The "Faina" is owned by Waterlux AG, based in Panama City, and managed by Tomex Team in Odessa, Ukraine,cite web | url = http://www.equasis.org/ | title = FAINA: Ship info | accessdaymonth = 4 October | accessyear = 2008 | publisher = Equasis] or Kaalbye Shipping Ukraine.cite news | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igGmlfz-K3g6EyC2vN8yK10vpCugD93GL6EG0 | title = US Navy watches seized ship with Sudan-bound tanks | last = Kennedy | first = Elizabeth A. | date = 29 September 2008 | agency = Associated Press | publisher = Google News | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008]

On 25 September 2008, the ship was captured by Somali pirates in the twenty-sixth such attack in 2008.cite news | url = http://www.sundayherald.com/international/shinternational/display.var.2453784.0.0.php | title = Pirates call all the shots | work = Sunday Herald | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008] The "Faina"'s crew (at the time of capture) consisted of 17 Ukrainians, three Russians and one Latvian, including a 14-year-old boy. [cite news | first = Nick | last = Wadhams | title = Somali Pirates' Unexpected Booty: Russian Tanks | url = http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1844914,00.html | work = Time | date = 26 September 2008 | accessdaymonth = 28 September | accessyear = 2008] On 28 September, Viktor Nikolsky, first mate on the "Faina", said that Vladimir Kolobkov, the ship's Russian captain, had died from a hypertension-related stroke.cite news | url = http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Crew-Member-On-Ukrainian-Ship-Hijacked-Off-Coast-Of-Somalia-Dies-Says-Fainas-Captain/Article/200809415108746?lpos=World_News_First_Home_Article_Teaser_Region_4&lid=ARTICLE_15108746_Crew_Member_On_Ukrainian_Ship_Hijacked_Off_Coast_Of_Somalia_Dies%2C_Says_Fainas_Captain | title = Pirates Demand Ransom Of Millions | publisher = Sky News | date = 28 September 2008 | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008] cite news | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/29/world/africa/29pirates.html?ref=world | title = Tensions Rise Over Ship Hijacked Off Somalia | last = Gettleman | first = Jeffrey | authorlink = Jeffrey Gettleman | date = 28 September 2009 | work = The New York Times | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008] cite news | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igGmlfz-K3g6EyC2vN8yK10vpCugD93H9K500 | title = Pirates say they celebrated Muslim holiday on ship | last = Hassan | first = Mohamed Olad | date = 30 September 2008 | agency = Associated Press | publisher = Google News | accessdaymonth = 30 September | accessyear = 2008]

Hijacking

On 25 September 2008, the "Faina" was hijacked by approximately 50 Somali pirates calling themselves the Central Regional Coast Guard. [cite news | first = Jeffrey | last = Gettleman | url = http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/q-a-with-a-pirate-we-just-want-the-money/ | title = Q. & A. With a Pirate: “We Just Want the Money” | work = The New York Times | date = 30 September 2008 | accessdaymonth = 4 October | accessyear = 2008] The ship was allegedly heading to Mombasa, Kenya, from Ukraine with 33 Soviet-made T-72 tanks, weapons (including rocket-propelled grenades and anti-aircraft guns) and ammunition on board, when it was seized. [cite news | first = Jeffrey | last = Gettleman | title = Somalia Pirates Capture Tanks and Global Notice | url = http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/27/world/africa/27pirates.html?em | work = The New York Times | date = 26 September 2008 | accessdaymonth = 28 September | accessyear = 2008] The pirates said they were unaware of the ship's cargo before they captured it. [cite news | url = http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080930/NEWS07/80930082 | title = Pirates' spokesman: We want money, not arms | date = 30 September 2008 | work = Detroit Free Press | accessdaymonth = 1 October | accessyear = 2008] However, the pirates claim that documents found onboard indicate that the arms cargo was destined for Juba, Southern Sudan, instead of Kenya, as originally understood. The claim was confirmed by U.S. Navy and Western intelligence officials, though the Kenyan government denies the allegation.

The pirates demanded a ransom and have threatened to blow up the ship if the ransom is not paid. cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7664767.stm | title = Pirates threaten to blow up ship | work = BBC | date = 10 October 2008 | accessdaymonth = 11 October | accessyear = 2008] The ransom amount has been reported as US$35 million, US$20 million, and US$8 million in the days that the ship and its crew have been held hostage. [cite news | url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/us-destroyer-guardsship-seized-by-pirates-945385.html | title = US destroyer sic|guard|sship|nolink=1 seized by pirates | date = 29 September 2008 | work = The Independent | accessdate = 2008-09-29] cite news | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igGmlfz-K3g6EyC2vN8yK10vpCugD93LHVA00 | title = Somali pirate says ransom reduced | date = 7 October 2008 | agency = Associated Press | publisher = Google News | accessdate = 7 October | accessyear = 2008] The pirates are thought to be attempting to move toward the pirate haven of Eyl in Somalia in an attempt to unload some of the cargo there. Sugule Ali, a spokesman for the pirates onboard the "Faina", said, "There is no shortage of food supply and all the crew members are healthy and well, including ours." [cite news | url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/3097826/US-warship-challenges-Somalia-pirates.html | title = US warship challenges Somalia pirates | last = Pflanz | first = Mike | date = 28 September 2008 | work = The Daily Telegraph | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008]

The U.S. Navy's "Arleigh Burke"-class destroyer USS|Howard|DDG-83|2 and the "Ticonderoga"-class missile cruiser USS|Vella Gulf|CG-72|2 engaged the "Faina" in pursuit within several hundred yards to stop the unloading of the cargo by the pirates. As of|2008|10|alt=As of 3 October, six U.S. warships have surrounded the "Faina" with the Russian missile frigate "Neustrashimy" en route,cite news | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igGmlfz-K3g6EyC2vN8yK10vpCugD93J14PG0 | title = Hijackers off Somalia show no sign of giving up | author = Mohamed Olad Hassan | agency = Associated Press | publisher = Google News | date = 3 October 2008 | accessdaymonth = 4 October | accessyear = 2008] though as of 27 September, the "Neustrashimy" was reported to have reached Somali waters. [cite news | first = Edmund | last = Sanders | url = http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-pirates27-2008sep27,0,5499444.story | title = Russian vessel rushes to Somalia's coast after cargo ship hijacked by pirates | work = Los Angeles Times | date = 27 September 2008 | accessdaymonth = 4 October | accessyear = 2008]

American helicopters and airplanes of unknown origin have also been flying over the "Faina". [cite news | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igGmlfz-K3g6EyC2vN8yK10vpCugD93FSFT00 | title = Somali pirates want $20M ship ransom; crewman dies | last = Hassan | first = Mohamed Olad | date = 28 September 2008 | agency = Associated Press | publisher = Google News | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008] Warships from the U.S. Navy and other navies have blockaded the MV "Faina" in a port off Somalia's Indian Ocean coast. [cite news | url = http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ihiCUqAF4ZNT_8sWoX3MNdUAzzZg | title = US Navy plays waiting game with surrounded Somali pirates | date = 1 October 2008 | agency = Agence France-Presse | publisher = Google News | accessdaymonth = 1 October | accessyear = 2008] However, pirates are attempting to unload small weapons from the cargo near the village of Hinbarwaqo, even while warned not to do so by surrounding navy ships. [cite news | url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article4842684.ece | title = Islamists plunder weapons from hijacked ship in Somalia | last = Crilly | first = Rob | date = 29 September 2008 | work = The Times | accessdaymonth = 29 September | accessyear = 2008]

Three of the hijackers were reportedly killed during a gunfight between rival pirates. [cite news | url = http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1143996017&cid=4 | title = Three pirates shot dead in ship hijack drama | date = 30 September 2008 | work = The Standard | accessdaymonth = 30 September | accessyear = 2008] However, this report was denied by the pirates, instead saying that they were celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, and were "… happy on the ship, and we are celebrating."

International reactions

Russia, Somalia, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, and NATO are cooperating to try to recover the ship. Kenya said that it will refuse to cooperate or negotiate with the pirates.cite news | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igGmlfz-K3g6EyC2vN8yK10vpCugD93N579O0 | title = NATO to send ships as Somali pirates ease demands | date = 9 October 2008 | agency = Associated Press | publisher = Google News | accessdaymonth = 9 October | accessyear = 2008]

The incident on the vessel has renewed international efforts to stem Somalian piracy. NATO has authorized a force of frigates to patrol Somalia's waters.

Puntland Minister of Fisheries Ahmed Said Aw-nur advocated storming the "Faina" with European or American commandos, saying, " [a] military operation has to be taken." On 1 October, Mohammed Jammer Ali, the acting Somalian Foreign Minister, said, " [t] he international community has permission to fight with the pirates." [cite news | url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5igGmlfz-K3g6EyC2vN8yK10vpCugD93HU3182 | title = Somalia: World can use force against the pirates | last = Hassan | first = Mohamed Olad | date = 1 October 2008 | publisher = Associated Press | publisher = Google News | accessdaymonth = 2 October | accessyear = 2008] The Somalian insurgency group Al-Shabaab advised the pirates to "either burn down the ship and its arms or sink it" if the ransom was not paid. [cite news | url = http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iD-AOo_tEeALdsa8JBdV0kE5Hpaw | title = Somali Islamists tell pirates to destroy Ukrainian arms ship | date = 2 October 2008 | agency = Agence France-Presse | publisher = Google News | accessdaymonth = 3 October | accessyear = 2008]

Gallery

References