MV Faina Ship Hijacking and Freedom

The MV Faina ship hijacking was a dramatic and intense event that captivated the world's attention in 2008. The ship was carrying a cargo of tanks and other military equipment.

The hijackers, who were Somali pirates, had been tracking the ship for several days before making their move. They were armed and well-prepared for a confrontation.

The crew of the MV Faina consisted of 21 Ukrainian sailors, who were responsible for navigating and maintaining the ship. They were tasked with delivering the cargo to Kenya.

The hijacking was a complex operation, involving multiple armed pirates and a sophisticated plan to take control of the ship.

The MV Faina was hijacked by approximately 50 Somali pirates on September 25, 2008. The ship was allegedly heading to Mombasa, Kenya, from Ukraine with 33 Soviet-made T-72 tanks, weapons, and ammunition on board.

The pirates demanded a ransom and threatened to blow up the ship, its crew, and themselves if the ransom wasn't paid. The ransom amount varied between US$35 million, US$20 million, US$8 million, and US$5 million in the weeks following the capture.

The pirates initially set a course for the pirate haven of Eyl, but instead anchored near the village of Hinbarwaqo after the US Navy's Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Howard caught up to them. Supplies of fuel for electrical generation were accepted on board, and food and drinking water were later delivered to the ship.

Three of the hijackers were reportedly killed during a gunfight between rival pirates, although this report was denied by the pirates.

The MV Faina was released from pirate captivity on February 5, 2009, after being held for 5 months.

A ransom of US$3,200,000 was paid by the ship's mysterious owners, allowing the remaining crew of 20 to be freed.

The ship and its crew arrived at the Port of Mombasa on February 12, 2009, where the cargo was unloaded.

The Kenyan parliamentary Defence and Foreign Relations Committee failed to determine the destination of the cargo, criticizing the Kenyan Ministry of Defence for non-cooperation and secret-keeping.

The Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko welcomed the end of the protracted process to free the MV Faina, crediting an operation involving special services agents.

A ransom was paid to about 100 pirates on board the MV Faina, reportedly around $3.2 million dropped from an aircraft.

The captain of a Danish vessel, which was also seized near Somalia before being freed, warned of the dangers of euphoria after paying a ransom.

The Ukrainian arms vessel was closely monitored by U.S. ships because it was stocked with weapons, including dozens of refurbished T-72 tanks and thousands of tons of other military equipment.

A ransom of US$3.2 million was paid for the ship's release, down from the initial request for $35 million after the capture in September.

MV Faina was a Ukrainian cargo ship that played a significant role in the world's attention in 2008.

The ship was carrying a cargo of 33 tanks, 10 rocket launchers, and other military equipment.

MV Faina was sailing from Kenya to Ukraine when it was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 25, 2008.

The crew consisted of Ukrainian sailors, as well as two Russian and two Sudanese sailors.

The ship was seized off the coast of Somalia, a country known for its pirate activity.

The pirates demanded a ransom of $20 million in exchange for the safe release of the crew and the ship.

The cargo's value was estimated to be around $30 million.

MV Faina was eventually released on September 19, 2009, after the crew and the ship were held captive for over a year.

The Ukrainian government paid a ransom of $3.2 million to secure the release of the crew and the ship.

The MV Faina was finally released from pirate captivity after a long and tense standoff.

A ransom of $3.2 million was paid for the ship's release, a significant reduction from the initial demand of $35 million.

The pirates had previously threatened to blow the ship up unless their demands were met, but this threat was never carried out.

The remaining crew, consisting of 17 Ukrainians, two Russians, and a Latvian, were reported to be healthy by the Ukrainian Presidency.

The ship is now heading to Mombasa under US Navy escort, a clear indication of the international community's efforts to secure the release of the MV Faina.

The pirates, who had initially demanded a ransom of $20 million, seemed to have accepted the lower amount, with one pirate stating that "no huge amount has been paid, but something to cover our expenses."