US Destroyer Monitoring Hijacked Ship

[unhappycamper]

US Destroyer Monitoring Hijacked Ship
September 28, 2008
Associated Press

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A heavily armed U.S. destroyer was stationed off the coast of Somalia on Sunday, making sure that pirates there don't remove tanks, ammunition and other heavy weapons from a hijacked Ukrainian cargo ship.

A man claiming to be a spokesman for the pirates says they want $35 million to free the cargo ship Faina and warned of dire consequences if any military action was taken to try to free the ship.

Pirates seized the Ukrainian-operated ship Thursday as it traveled to Kenya with a load of 33 Russian-built T-72 tanks and a substantial quantity of ammunition and spare parts ordered by the Kenyan government.

U.S. officials said the American warship was concerned about the large amount of weapons on the hijacked freighter. In a rare gesture of cooperation, the Americans appeared to be keeping an eye on the Faina until the Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy, or Intrepid, reaches the area.

Pirate attacks worldwide have surged this year and Africa remains the world's top piracy hotspot, with 24 reported attacks in Somalia and 18 in Nigeria this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau's piracy reporting center.


Rest of article at: http://www.military.com/news/article/us-destroyer-monitoring-hijacked-ship.html

[Crowman1979]

1. Looks like them pirates are gonna have some be getting another delivery.

Consisting 5-inch rounds coming from the air! :D