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.

Not me, sir! -- NAVFOR not responsible

mv Longchamp
EU frigates do not necessarily accompany vessels through the transit corridor, hence Navfor’s reluctance to define the transits as convoys.THE German-operated liquefied petroleum gas carrier Longchamp, hijacked last week, did not register for European Union protection and missed the scheduled Gulf of Aden transit by 20 miles, it was revealed today.

While the vessel’s operator, Hamburg-based Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, had access to the transit schedule via the EU Navfor website, the 4,316 dwt Longchamp was not expected by EU naval commanders overseeing the operation.

”While the ship was in the corridor, it was 20 miles behind the transit,” a Navfor spokesman said. “The company was registered with us, but the vessel was not.”

Six Million for mv Longchamp opening

The shadow of mv Sirius Star: opening demands of pirates are inflated. The Hamburg-based Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement reported that Somali pirates who recently hijacked mv Longchamp, the German gas tanker, have demanded 6 Million dollars to free the ship and its crew. Company officials were able to speak with the hijacked ship's master.

German Navy claims Longchamp not protected

The German finance house MPC Munchmeyer Petersen AG (“MPC”) is the nominal owner of MPC Steamship, for the benefit of MC Shipping Inc.,incorporated in the Republic of Liberia and located in Monoco. Corsair III Investments
(Luxembourg) s.á.r.l. and Oldehaver Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH are shareholders currently involved in a Restructuring & Recapitalisation program.

The Longchamp, flying a flag of convenience from the Bahamas, is managed by the German firm Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement, which said in a statement that seven pirates boarded the tanker early Thursday. MPC Steamship contracts the operation out to the Bernhard Schulte ship management company, a longtime Hamburg shipping operator. Currently the ship is chartered to yet another company, Bridge Marine, which is registered in the Liberian capital Monrovia.

Robin Phillips, deputy director of the Bahamas maritime authority in London, said the Longchamp had been traveling in a corridor secured by EU military forces when it sent a distress signal before dawn. "Ships and helicopters were dispatched, but they arrived too late," said Phillips, adding that gunshots could be heard over the radio.



Date Updated: Feb 26, 2008
Vessel's name: Longchamp 1.2
IMO number: 9005106 1.3
Vessel's previous name(s): Leo Gas 1.4-1.7
Flag: Bahamas 1.8
Port of Registry: Nassau 1.9
Call sign: C6QV8 1.11
Inmarsat phone number: Mini M 761125162 1.12
Fax number: Mini M 761125164 1.13
Email address: longchamp@hanseaticfleet.com 1.16
Type of vessel: Gas 1.17
Type of hull: Double Bottom 1.19
OWNERSHIP & OPERATION
Registered owner - Full Style: Beteiligungsgesellschaft LPG Tankerflotte
GmbH
Van der Smissen Strasse 9 D-22767 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: +4940 380223714
Fax: +4940 380223718
Telex: NA
Email: s.boettcher@mpc-steamship.com
1.20
Technical operator - Full Style: Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement
(Deutschland)
Brandswiete 1, D-20457, Hamburg, Germany.
Tel: +49 40 380367-0
Fax: +49 40 380367-99
Telex: NA
Email: de-sdc2-Vettings@bsshipmanagement.
com
1.22
Commercial operator - Full Style: MC Shipping Inc
Gildo Pastor Center 7, Rue du Gabian MC
9800 Monaco
Tel: +377 9797 4990
Fax: +377 9797 4999
Telex: NA
Email: operations@mcshipping.com


ORGANIZATION: MC Shipping Inc. was incorporated in the Republic of Liberia and, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates a fleet of 19 vessels, of which nine are wholly owned liquefied petroleum gas (“LPG”) carrier vessels. In addition, the Company has a 25.8% percent interest in an entity that owns and operates four containerships, a 50% interest in another entity that owns and operates an LPG carrier, and a 25% interest in an entity that owns and operates five LPG carriers.

On December 18, 2006, the Company entered into agreements for the sale and charter back of six LPG carriers, Auteuil, Deauville, Cheltenham, Malvern, Coniston and Longchamp to Beteiligungsgesellschaft LPG Tankerflotte mbH & Co. KG (“LTF”), a special purpose German KG company formed by the German finance house MPC Munchmeyer Petersen AG (“MPC”) for a total sales price of $52 million. The total book value of the vessels was approximately $32.3 million. Simultaneously with the sale, the Company agreed to charter back each of the vessels at $225,000 per month for a period of four years and reinvest $5,400,000 in LTF for approximately 25% of the equity, thereby remaining committed to the ships and its customers.

The captain of a German Navy warship on an anti-piracy mission off Somalia said Friday the mission was succeeding, even though a German-owned gas tanker was snatched by pirates the previous day elsewhere on the coast.

The 3,415-gross-ton Longchamp reached Somali waters Thursday evening under pirate command, said Cyrus Mody, a spokesman for the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) in London.

The pirates are expected to demand a ransom for the vessel, its crew and its Asia-bound cargo of liquefied gas. German defence officials say the Longchamp was not part of a convoy under military supervision when it was hijacked.

captain Kay-Achim Schoenbach of the frigate Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

The MV Longchamp was under naval escort when it was attacked, according to the vessel’s owner, Hamburg-based MPC Steamship.

Bahamas-Flag LPG Tanker taken by pirates

SOMALIAN pirates today captured a German-owned LPG tanker participating in a convoy through the Gulf of Aden Maritime Security Patrol Area, diverting Chinese and Indian warships with a decoy raid to enable colleagues to seize a small ship with low freeboard. Bahamas-flag 1990-built, 4,316 dwt Longchamp, operated by Hamburg-based Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement. The Indian warship kept a safe distance, so as not to aggravate the pirates. Then the ship turned hard to starboard and went straight for the Somali coast.

US List of Malta-flag Iranian-owned cargo ships

3. BRIGHTNESS (a.k.a. IRAN BRIGHTNESS) General Cargo 24,065DWT
16,621GRT Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO
9051648 (vessel)[NPWMD].
20. ELEVENTH OCEAN Container Ship 41,962DWT 36,014GRT Malta flag
(IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9209324 (vessel)
[NPWMD].
21. FIFTH OCEAN Container Ship 79,030DWT 75,395GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9349667 (vessel) [NPWMD].
41. IRAN BRAVE General Cargo Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration
Identification IMO 9051650 (vessel) [NPWMD].
67. IRAN KERMAN Container Ship 41,978DWT 36,014GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9209350 (vessel) [NPWMD].
89. IRAN TUCHAL Container Ship 66,900DWT 53,453GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9346536 (vessel) [NPWMD].
94. LUCKY LILY (a.k.a. IRAN LUCKY LILY) General Cargo 22,882DWT
15,670GRT Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO
9165827 (vessel) [NPWMD].
95. LUCKY MAN (a.k.a. IRAN LUCKY MAN) General Cargo 22,882DWT 15,670GRT
Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9165839
(vessel) [NPWMD].
96. MIR DAMAD Container Ship 5,012DWT 4,276GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9148491 (vessel) [NPWMD].
97. MIR EMAD Container Ship 5,012DWT 4,276GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9148518 (vessel) [NPWMD].
100. NEW STATE (a.k.a. IRAN NEW STATE) Container Ship 41,937DWT
36,014GRT Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO
9209336 (vessel) [NPWMD].
101. NINTH OCEAN General Cargo 22,882DWT 15,670GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9165798 (vessel) [NPWMD].
102. OCEAN CANDLE (a.k.a. IRAN OCEAN CANDLE) General Cargo 23,176DWT
16,694GRT Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO
9167253 (vessel) [NPWMD].
104. PRETTY SEA (a.k.a. IRAN PRETTY SEA (KHUZESTAN)) General Cargo
Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9167277
(vessel) [NPWMD].
107. SABALAN (a.k.a. IRAN SABALAN) Container Ship 66,900DWT 53,453GRT
Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9346524
(vessel) [NPWMD].
108. SAHAND (a.k.a. IRAN SAHAND) Container Ship 66,900DWT 53,453GRT
Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9328900
(vessel) [NPWMD].
110. SEA BLOOM (a.k.a. IRAN SEA BLOOM) General Cargo 23,176DWT
16,694GRT Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO
9167291 (vessel) [NPWMD].
111. SEA FLOWER General Cargo Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration
Identification IMO 9167289 (vessel) [NPWMD].
112. SEA STATE (a.k.a. IRAN SEA STATE) General Cargo 23,176DWT
16,694GRT Malta flag (IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO
9167265 (vessel) [NPWMD].
113. SEVENTH OCEAN General Cargo 22,882DWT 15,670GRT Malta flag
(IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9165786 (vessel)
[NPWMD].
116. SIXTH OCEAN Container Ship 79,030DWT 75,395GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9349679 (vessel) [NPWMD].
118. TENTH OCEAN General Cargo 22,882DWT 15,670GRT Malta flag (IRISL);
Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9165815 (vessel) [NPWMD].
119. TWELFTH OCEAN Container Ship 41,971DWT 36,014GRT Malta flag
(IRISL); Vessel Registration Identification IMO 9209348 (vessel)

Russian cargo mv Monchegorsk Cypriot flag

USS San Antonio, an amphibious transport dockship that serves as the command and control centre for the taskforce, boarded the former Russian cargo vessel Monchegorsk, which is registered in Limassol and flying a Cypriot flag.

The ship docked at an Egyptian Red Sea port for a detailed search during which, according to unconfirmed reports, weapons were found.
# MONCHEGORSK
# MMSI: 210558000
# IMO: 8013039
# Call sign: P3NL5
# Flag: Cyprus
# Vesseltype: cargo ship
# Width: 24 m
# Length: 173 m

NB Maritime Management Cyprus Ltd

We supply professional Russian crew


NB SHIPPING LIMITED
99089
Address : 284, Arch.Makarios III Avenue,P.O.Box 132, Limassol, Cyprus
Phone : +357 (25) 585440 Fax : +357 (25) 585409 Email : nbmm@nbmm.com.cy
Number of Ships : 5

Key to the List of Shipowners
...
MONCHEGORSK 810758 CY P3NL5 18627 23128 1983