ANALYSIS
Attacked ship anchored off Somalia
BBC Nov 18, 08 10:43 AM CST
(Newser)
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The pirates who seized the Sirius Star have reportedly brought their massive prize to anchor off the coast of Somalia, the BBC reports. The Saudi oil tanker’s entire 25-person crew is believed to be safe, but the consequences for international shipping may be far-reaching, Roger Middleton writes in the Times of London.
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Ship loaded with oil is taken to Somalian port
BBC Nov 17, 08 11:36 AM CST
(Newser)
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Pirates flying the Liberian flag hijacked a Saudi Arabian oil tanker today, the BBC reports. The Sirius Star is now bound for the port of Eyl, Somalia, a common destination for pirates to unload their booty. Currently holding its full load of 2 million barrels, the Sirius Star contains one-quarter of Saudi Arabia’s daily oil output. "It's the largest ship that we've seen pirated," said a US Navy spokesman.
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EU plans force to combat maritime criminals, who took $30M in ransom in '08
BBC Oct 2, 08 11:00 AM CDT
(Newser)
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With pirates still holding a munitions-laden ship off Somalia’s coast, the European Union plans a security force to crack down on maritime crime in the area, the BBC reports. The US Navy has surrounded the MV Faina to ensure the weapons aboard are not given to terrorists, and Somalia has authorized use of force to regain control of the ship. Meanwhile piracy in the area has netted some $30 million in ransom this year, the AP adds.
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No plans to sell weapons to Islamists
New York Times Sep 30, 08 11:24 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The Somali pirates currently surrounded by US warships aboard a Ukrainian weapons freighter say they didn’t mean to steal the massive heavy weaponry shipment, they tell the New York Times , calling in by satellite phone. “We just saw a big ship,” said the leader. “So we stopped it.” They promise they’re not out to sell the cargo to terrorists. “We just want the money.”
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Defiant Somali pirates demand $20M for cargo of tanks, weapons
Guardian (UK) Sep 30, 08 4:15 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Three pirates were killed today as in-fighting broke out aboard a hijacked Ukranian tanker, reports the Guardian. Tensions about what to do with the tanker, its crew, and the 33 tanks aboard it rose yesterday as American destroyers and cruisers continued to move in to ensure that the weapons—bound for Sudan—didn't fall into the wrong hands, said a Navy spokesman.
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Ukrainian vessel surrounded by Western warships off Somalia
Times (UK) Sep 29, 08 7:26 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Islamic extremists are preparing to unload anti-aircraft guns and grenades from a Ukrainian ship captured by Somali pirates, the Times of London reports, though the ship, taken Thursday as it approached Kenya, is surrounded by US and European warships. Speaking via satellite phone, the seized vessel’s captain said one of his 21-member crew had died and the captors wanted $20 million in ransom.
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Huge carrier arrives near Tokyo amid radiation fears
Reuters Sep 25, 08 6:02 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Japanese protesters greeted a nuclear-powered American warship at its new home port near Tokyo today, Reuters reports. The USS George Washington drew criticism after reports last month than a US submarine had leaked radioactive material at Japanese ports for 2 years —underscoring the tense relationship between Japanese citizens and the American military, especially on nuclear technology.
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Associated Press Aug 24, 08 12:57 PM CDT
(AP)
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A US Navy warship carrying humanitarian aid anchored at the Georgian port of Batumi today, sending a strong signal of support to an embattled ally as Russian forces built up around two separatist regions. But a top Russian general suggested that the presence of US and other NATO ships in the Black Sea would worsen tensions already at a post-Cold War low.
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But radioactivity level
is nothing to worry about, says Navy
Associated Press Aug 2, 08 10:10 AM CDT
(AP)
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The US Navy has warned Japan that a small amount of radiation may have leaked from an American nuclear submarine during its recent visits to two southern ports. The US said the amount of radioactivity was negligible, but the news could cause a stir in Japan, where both the US military presence and its nuclear vessels are controversial.
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Top officers allowed practices that led to
$70M in damage
CNN Jul 31, 08 11:03 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The Navy has canned the captain and executive officer of the USS George Washington after investigations indicated that the destructive fire that broke out onboard this pring may have resulted from breaches in protocol. Flammable liquids were found in unsuitable storage areas, and crewmembers were allowed to smoke nearby. About $70 million in damage was done to the nuclear aircraft carrier.
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Vietnam servicemen bemoan association with Kerry attack ad
New York Times Jun 30, 08 6:06 AM CDT
(Newser)
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These days, the phrase "Swift boat" has come to mean a vicious political attack of the kind suffered by John Kerry in the 2004 election. While the term has gained such currency that it's now used as a verb, one group is seriously miffed: the Navy veterans who, like Kerry, served on a Swift boat during the Vietnam war. The New York Times reports on the former servicemen looking to reclaim their honor.
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Justices also reject environmentalists' challenge to US-Mexico border fence
Los Angeles Times Jun 23, 08 1:06 PM CDT
(Newser)
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The Supreme Court today agreed to hear the US Navy's objection to a court order that ships may not use sonar within 12 miles of the California coast because high-frequency signals are harming whales and other marine life, the Los Angeles Times reports. The Bush administration argues that the judge exceeded her authority in putting environmental concerns before national security.
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Prisoners held far from courts and scrutiny, human rights group charges
Guardian (UK) Jun 2, 08 5:07 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The US has detained terror suspects on some 17 naval ships that have been used as secret "floating prisons" around the world since 2001, according to a study by the human rights organization Reprieve. At least 50 prisoners were held on a single ship and delivered to unknown locations, reports the Guardian .
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