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Russia sends warship after tanker is hijacked by Somali pirates

06 May 2010 03:29 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. A crew of 23 Russians is aboard the Liberian-flagged MV Moscow University, reportedly carrying a cargo worth more than $50 million. The tanker, bound for China, was seized off Yemen, APA reports quoting â€œLos Angeles Timesâ€.
A Russian warship was sailing toward the kidnapped crew of a Russian-owned oil tanker hijacked Wednesday by Somali pirates as the vessel headed into the Indian Ocean with a cargo reportedly valued at more than $50 million, according to a European antipiracy naval force.

The MV Moscow University tanker had left Sudan and was bound for China when pirates seized the 106,474-ton vessel about 350 miles off the Yemeni island of Socotra. The tanker flew a Liberian flag, but is owned by Novorossiysk Shipping Co. and carried a crew 23 Russians.

"This morning we had an attack on a Liberian-flagged ship Moscow University in the northeastern horn of our operation," European Union Naval Force Commander Rear Adm. Jan Thornqvist told reporters in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. "The crew members locked themselves in the radar room. This ship has been hijacked."
The Novorossiysk website said the tanker was apprehended by pirates who opened fire from two small boats: "The company suspects the pirates managed to board the tanker. According to the latest information received from the [ship] none of the 23 seafarers on board have been hurt, the vessel and the cargo sustained no damage."

The scourge of Somali pirates, who brandish machine guns and travel in speedboats, has forced oil tankers and cargo vessels deeper into the Indian Ocean to avoid hijackings near the Gulf of Aden, which leads to the Red Sea and Suez Canal. But the bandits have adapted, often sailing hundreds of miles off the Yemeni and Somali shores while dodging warships from U.S., Europe and other nations.

The dynamics of Somali pirating may be changing, at least in one lawless cove. Earlier this week, pirates on the coast at Xaradheere fled as Islamic insurgents stormed the town. It was unclear whether the group, known as Hizbul Islam, which has connections to Al Qaeda and has been battling the Somali government for years, will use the base for pirating and hostage taking in attempts to collect millions of dollars in ransom.

Pirates are believed to be holding about 350 hostages and have control of as many as 20 vessels, many of them scattered off the coast of Somalia. Maritime authorities say bandits have attacked hundreds of ships in recent years and have negotiated ransoms estimated to be between $100 million to $200 million.