A - Day 8: Somalia pirates still hold Belize-flagged Faina for US$20 million

Amandala

Day 8: Somalia pirates still hold Belize-flagged Faina for US$20 million


Posted: 03/10/2008 - 11:20 AM Author: Adele Ramos

For the past week, Somalia pirates, said to be Muslims – who have held a Belize-flagged vessel with 20 crew members on-board and an Ukrainian cargo of 33 war tanks and other military weapons – have been the focus of international security officials, still trying to put into effect plans to free the ship, its cargo and crew from the pirates’ hold.

Recent press reports are that the United States Navy has encircled the hijacked vessel with half-a-dozen warships, and are especially aiming to prevent pirates from offloading the military cargo. The EU is threatening to fight back with military action, says a report today by Reuters news agency.

The pirates, only one of whom has been named, as Sugule Ali, have been demanding at least US$20 million in ransom (and up to US$35 million). The cargo – not to mention the lives – is valued much more than the ransom figure.

So far, one of the hostages has died, reportedly of a heart attack. The pirates refuse to release the remainder of the hostages until they get the money.

The Faina – registered at IMMARBE (the International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize) on April 25, 2003 – was seized by pirates traveling in small boats on Thursday, September 25, 2008. IMMARBE says that on Monday, September 29, they had received information that the vessel’s Russian Master, Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov, had died from a heart attack.

“According to the information received so far, the cargo of 33 T-72 tanks and other military equipment was a lawful cargo carried in compliance with the relevant international agreements,” IMMARBE’s press release, sent to Amandala on Wednesday, said.

IMMARBE also reported that September 25, they launched an investigation into the act of piracy and are liaising with relevant parties to resolve this situation. (At press time today, there was no update from IMMARBE.)

International press reports claim that the hostages on board are Ukrainians, Russians and Latvians.

The pirates themselves had been engaged in a shootout over what to do with the military weapons and whether to surrender, and three were reportedly shot and presumed dead, according to French press reports citing US defense officials. The pirates have denied the report.

Apart from being an avenue for the transportation of military hardware, the waters off that part of Africa are also known as a major route for a substantial portion of the world’s oil.

Even though early reports had said the cargo was destined for Kenya, later reports cite Sudan as the cargo’s destination point, via smuggling from Kenya.

In Kenya, Andrew Mwangura, of East African Seafarers’ Assistance Programme, was charged, allegedly for giving “alarming” information about the destination of the hijacked ship, and claiming that the Faina had tanks, grenade-launchers, and other military hardware bound for South Sudan, not Kenya.

Reports claim that pirates of Somalia have netted $18-30 million so far in 2008 in similar open-water jackings, according to a report, Piracy in Somalia, by Chantam House (London).

Almost 1,000 ships are registered internationally to fly the Belize flag.