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Kenya Navy takes out the big guns
A Kenya Navy warship sails out of the Likoni channel to escort the MV Faina ship which was released by Somali pirates last week. The MV Faina which is carrying military hardware, including tanks, was released after its owners paid a ransom of about Sh232million. Photo/GIDEON MAUNDU
The Kenya Navy sent out a warship and security in Mombasa was tightened at sea and on land ahead of the anticipated arrival of MV Faina, the weapons-laden Ukrainian Ship seized by pirates four months ago.
The ship is said to be in the high seas, under the escort of American warships. It was released after the payment of a Sh262 million ransom to Somali pirates.
Highly placed sources that did not wish to be named said the ship, which is carrying military equipment the government says belongs to the Kenya military, could arrive Tuesday afternoon.
The source hinted that the arrival of the ship would be followed by a press briefing from senior government officials.
A Kenya Navy warship patrolled the waters near Mombasa and was on Sunday afternoon seen heading out to sea. Plain clothes policemen were seen keeping watch around the busy Mama Ngina drive towards the lighthouse but no information was forthcoming from the government on the ship.
Our source said top officers were held up in meetings between the regular police, the General Service Unit and the Kenya Navy.
Mv Faina was released last week after pirates pocketed a $3.5 million (Sh262.5 million) ransom after four months of being held in the breakaway Puntland.
The vessel will likely be put under heavy security while entering Kenyan territorial waters and at the port.
MV Faina is carrying 33 T-72 Soviet-made tanks and crates containing small arms which were destined for Mombasa at the time it was hijacked.
There have been allegations that the arms were intended for the government of Southern Sudan, but Kenya has claimed the weapons and the Sudanese have denied that the shipment is theirs. Sudan is under a United Nations arms embargo.
Increase of piracy
After unprecedented increase of piracy in the Gulf of Aden – one of the busiest sea routes for commercial ships in the world – pushed insurance and freight costs high, the international community reacted by deploying allied forces in the area.
Allied forces
Pirates conducted successful hijackings despite the presence of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) European Union allied forces war ships with the most daring hijack being that of Sirius Star, a Saudi Arabian super tanker.
A $3 million ransom was paid for the release of the oil tanker which was taken with $100 million worth of crude oil on board.
A week ago it was announced that Kenya had agreed to prosecute and punish pirates arrested by the navies patrolling the waters off SomaliaSource Sunday Nation
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