Judging by the smiles all around on both the MV Faina’s Ukrainian crew and the pirates themselves, maybe getting your container ship hijacked in the Gulf of Aden isn’t so horrible after all!
Things get a little less lighthearted when you realise that the Faina was filled with Soviet T-72 tanks that may have been bound for the shitstorm that is Southern Sudan. A ransom was parachuted down the Faina’s decks in a cargo container (which is the ransom delivery method of choice), and the pirates escaped.
The Big Picture today has this and many, many more photos of Somali pirates, detailing what is one of the more fascinating stories around right now. Even more fascinating when you consider who is making money from this old-world meets new-world banditry. [Big Picture, image: HO/AFP/Getty Images]
KnowsBetter
April 28, 2009 at 7:56 AM
@Goochilini: It is NOT illegal to have an armed crew, or armed security team on your commercial vessel. I does require you to comply with special procedures, which tend to vary significantly from port to port. International maritime law, however, does allow you to repel boarders using whatever means are necessary.
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