The Kenyan government confirmed late Friday that a ship hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of the war-torn nation late Thursday is carrying military equipment destined for the East African nation.
A statement from the government Spokesman, Alfred Mutua, said the Belize-flagged Faina vessel was carrying an authorized Ukrainian government arms shipment for the Kenyan government including type T-72 tanks, an extra number of armored personnel carriers to be used by the military in the country.
Mutua said the government was in contact with International Maritime Agencies and other security partners in an endeavor to secure the ship and cargo.
"However, it should be noted that because the ship had not yet docked at Mombassa, the responsibility of the insured cargo rests with the shipper," said Mutua in a statement. "The government is actively monitoring the situation and will provide updates as necessary."
The vessel with 21 crew members aboard -- 17 Ukrainians, three Russians, and one Latvian -- had been captured by the buccaneers.
The pirates have warned against any attempt to rescue the vessel's crew or cargo. One of the pirates reportedly said they would speak to the Kenyan authorities about a ransom for the ship.
Pirates have seized dozens of ships near Somalia's coast in recent months. A Russian Navy vessel is heading to the region and the United States says it is monitoring developments in the area.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Yury Yekhanurov earlier confirmed 33Russian T-72 tanks and "a substantial quantity of ammunition" were aboard the captured cargo ship.
The ship's captain had reported being surrounded by three boats of armed men on Thursday afternoon, it said.
Department of Defense spokesman Bogita Ongeri confirmed the seizure, saying Kenyan Defense Minister Yusuf Hajji was collaborating with various countries whose navies operate in the Indian Ocean to get back the ship.
"The ship was intercepted before it got into the hands of the Kenyan Navy escort in the piracy prone waters off the coast of Puntland," he said.
France circulated a draft UN resolution last week, urging states to deploy naval vessels and aircraft to combat such piracy.
France, which has troops in nearby Djibouti and also participates in a multinational naval force patrol in the area, has intervened twice to release French sailors kidnapped by pirates.
Commandos freed two people whose boat was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden earlier this month and in April. Six arrested pirates were handed over to the French authorities for trial.
Russia announced on Friday it would start carrying out regular anti-piracy patrols in the waters off Somalia to protect Russian citizens and ships. A warship had been sent to the area earlier this week, it said.
Somalia has been without a functioning central government for 17 years and has suffered from continual civil strife.
Source:Xinhua
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