Pirates seize ship carrying tanks

[Thrik]

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- The Foreign Ministry says pirates have seized a Ukrainian-operated ship off Somalia.

The ministry says the Faina was sailing with 21 people on board under the Belize flag, though it is operated by Ukrainian managing company Tomax Team Inc.

The ministry says in a statement that the ship's captain reported being surrounded by three boats of armed men Thursday afternoon.

The ship's passengers include 17 Ukrainian citizens including the captain, as well as three Russians and one Latvian citizen.

The ministry had no information on the ship's cargo. But the Interfax news agency cited an unnamed source as saying the ship was loaded with about 30 T-72 tanks and spare parts for them.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/09 ... index.html

Pirates is one thing, but pirates with fuckin' tanks on their ships? It's like the new generation of cannons.

[FrieChamp]

Man these pirates are getting annoying and now they even got tanks. What's next? Hijacked boats that carry SCUD missiles and nuclear arms codes?

[Thrik]

These are the tanks that got pillaged btw:

[attachment=0]T72_cfb_borden_1.JPG[/attachment]

[dux]

Nothing to worry about. Old tanks.

[PogoP]

But we all know that pirates can't set foot on land, so we'll be ok. Unless they try shooting us from off-shore in their tanks... Barmouth beware!

[2d-chris]

and thats only if you trust the news most likely they are toy tanks and the news decided to make a story out of it.

[Psy]

Tank-propelled boats > You.

[e-freak]

These tanks were meant to be shipped to the Kenian Army according to a dpa article I read today. Russia sent one of theyr battleships yesterday to clear the situation

[Chunks]

t-72's are about a generation behind modern tanks, but they are no slouches. Especially in Aftrica where they aren't going to go up against any armor.

The pirates won't be able to do anything with the cargo other than sell it, they probably don't have the means to get offload them from the ship let alone enough knowledge to even operate them.

Russia is probably going to want their tanks back, I don't see this ending well.

[Ginger Lord]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7639090.stm

Demanding $35,000,000 for the ship and crew now!

Wouldn't put is past the Russians to blow the ship out of the water and give Ukraine/Kenya a load more tanks to replace the lost ones. The crew is probably seen as expendable :S

[Erratic]

This ship seizing is obviously just a form of protest. Cheaper tanks for all or no dice!