Ship Seized By Pirates Had Tanks Aboard

By Cernig

A Ukrainian vessel captured by pirates while on its way to Somalia had a military cargo aboard, including 30 T-72 tanks according to reports.

That would be a significant and potentially dangerous seizure in Somalia, where Islamist insurgents have been battling the government and its Ethiopian military allies for nearly two years.

Although the subject of a U.N. arms embargo, the Horn of Africa nation is awash with arms.

Reports that tanks had been taken by pirates also raised questions about their original planned destination.

"Some say it was carrying about 38 tanks, others say 30," said Andrew Mwangura, of the Mombasa-based East African Seafarers' Assistance Programme.

"In the past, military equipment has come through Mombasa on its way to south Sudan, but we have not seen any south Sudanese officials at the port waiting. And anyway, there is an arms embargo for Sudan."

Before its Orange Revolution, Ukraine was one of the worst illegal arms traders in the world. It would certainly stymie plans to accept it as a NATO member if it turned out Ukrainian companies were still widely involved in the illegal arms trade.

Meanwhile, Russia is to continue its military outreach, setting itself up as a clear multi-polar alternative to the US, with an anti-piracy mission off the Horn of Africa.

"In the future the Russian navy will send its ships on a regular basis to zones where there is a danger from maritime piracy," navy spokesman Igor Dygalo told the Vesti-24 television station.

He said one Russian warship left its base on the Baltic Sea on Sept. 24 heading for the area off Somalia's coast to tackle pirates operating there.

Pirates have already seized 30 ships this year off the Somali coats and are holding some 200 crewmen from 12 ships to ransom.