USN inspected pirates' small boats & released

On February 5, U.S. seamen inspected the pirates' boats to ensure they weren't carrying any of the mv Faina's weapons cargo.
But the Navy did not take action against the pirates because they still hold many hostages from other ships, said Cmdr. Jane Campbell, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet.

Belize mv Faina gets pirates 3.2 mil by airmail

According to businessmen on shore, the ransom was around $3 million and the money was dropped by parachute from a small plane, which seems to be the new way to deliver pirate booty. The weather was bad, said Dryad Maritime Intelligence Service Ltd.
According to witnesses in Hin-Barwaaqo, the fishing village near where the Faina has been anchored, a band of pirates left the ship on Thursday with seven Russian-style machine guns.

It’s unclear what will happen with the arsenal on board. The Kenyan government says it is theirs but the pirates and Western officials in the region have said the arms were destined for a former rebel army in southern Sudan and Kenya was simply the transit point. Kenya uses many American and British weapons, which is why it seemed strange that the Kenyan military would suddenly switch to Eastern-bloc gear.

Release of Belize-flag MV Faina?

A deal has been reached for the release by Somali pirates of a Ukrainian-owned ship, seized in the Gulf of Aden more than two months ago, carrying a controversial cargo of 33 Russian T-72 tanks. A "few technicalities" remain.
The arrangement to release the MV Faina and its 17-member crew came after protracted negotiations as the vessel, anchored off the Somali port of Hardhere, was surrounded by US Navy and other warships.

Neustrashimy arrives

The guided missile frigate Neustrashimy (Intrepid) is passing through the Suez Canal to join military vessels from other nations protecting shipping in pirate-infested waters off Somalia. (21 Oct 08).

MV Faina Crew Okay

Crew of MV Faina, The Belize-flagged cargo ship, owned and operated by Kaalbye Shipping, Ukraine

Neustrashimy carrying marines and special forces

Headed to the waters off Somalia, where pirates are holding the MV Faina, a Russian warship, the frigate Neustrashimy, is carrying marines and special forces.

Belize-flag Faina loaded with South Sudan tanks

Contracts for the hardware were made by the Kenyan Ministry of Defense on behalf of South Sudan's government.

Tanks aboard Faina destined for South Sudan

Authorities in Kenya have charged a maritime official who said that the battle tanks aboard Belize-flag MV Faina were destined for southern Sudan, rather than Kenya.

Andrew Mwangura - the spokesman for the Kenyan chapter of the Seafarers Assistance Programme - was charged on Thursday with making alarming statements.

Mr Mwangura was also accused of illegal possession of drugs. He denies both charges.

Police want to hold Mr Mwangura for five days, saying he has vital information they want to question him about.

The claim that the tanks on board the Ukrainian ship were going to South Sudan has been strongly denied by Kenyan and Ukrainian authorities.

The tanks on board the ship were bound for the autonomous government of South Sudan, it is understood, in possible contravention of a peace accord.

Images around Faina

Faina surrounded

USS Howard

Belize-flag mv Faina, hijacked by pirates, now surrounded by naval vessels

Details of MV Faina, hijacked with 33 russian tanks

MV FAINA

Belize flag but is managed by the Ukrainian company Tomax Team Inc

details

IMO NUMBER 7419377
VESSEL TYPE RO-RO CARGO
HULL TYPE DOUBLE HULL
GROSS TONNAGE 10.931 tons
SUMMER DWT 9.019 tons
BUILD 1978
BUILDER LODOSE VARV LODOSE - SWEDEN
FLAG BELIZE
MANAGER TOMEX TEAM ODESSA - UKRAINE
OWNER WATERLUX PANAMA
VESSEL DETAILS
CLASSIFICATION KM* L3
LAST->
SPECIAL SURVEY 2008 Aug 01
GENERIC
SPEED 15,0 knots
DIMENSIONS ->
BREADTH EXTREME 18,03 m
BREADTH MOULDED 18,03 m
DEPTH 13,35 m
DRAUGHT 6,72 m
FREEBOARD 6.640,0 mm
LENGTH->
B/W PERPENDICULARS 152,50 m
LENGTH OVERALL 161,37 m
LENGTH REGISTERED 161,40 m
TONNAGES
NET TONNAGE 3.280 tons
LOADLINE
DISPLACEMENT->
(SUMMER) 13.650 tons
CAPACITIES
BALLAST 3.565 tons
BUNKER 525,00 tons
FUEL OIL 900,00 tons
CARGO
CARGO HOLDS 1*6550 m3
1*10025 m3
STRUCTURE
BULKHEADS 5
DECKS
NUMBER 2
ENGINE
ENGINE # 2
ENGINE TOTAL POWER 7.654 KW
PROPELLER 2-FIXED PITCHED SOLID PROPELLER
COMMUNICATION
CALL SIGN V3EZ2
HISTORICAL INFO
PLACE OF BUILT SWEDEN
YARD NUMBER 179
HISTORICAL INFO
FORMER NAMES
since 2007 Apr 23 MARABOU
since 2003 Apr 27 LOVERVAL
since 1985 Nov 18 MATINA
since 1983 May 30 VALLMO
FORMER FLAGS
since 1996 Aug 06 PANAMA
since 1991 Jul 19 LUXEMBOURG
since 1991 Mar 26 BELGIUM
since 1983 May 30 SWEDEN

SOMALIA
Pirates are believed to be using “mother vessels” to launch attacks far from the coast. These “mother vessels” proceed far out to sea and launch smaller boats to attack and hijack passing ships. Eastern and Northeastern coasts are high risk areas for attacks and hijackings