Somali pirates have struck again, this time a Ukrainian ship, the Belize-flagged Faina bound for Kenya.  The vessel was carrying 33 T-72 Main Battle Tanks, as well as spare parts for the tanks, grenade launchers and ammunition.

Hours after the ship was taken on Friday, the Russian government announced it was sending a warship to the Somali coast.  This should prove interesting as the Russians really have little patience for negotiating and none for paying ransom.

The Somali pirates have gotten bold lately, with at least 13 ships and 300 crew members being held off of Somali waters by pirates according to London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB).  This time they may have bitten off more than they can chew.  Although the grenade launchers and ammunition will be of immediate value to the pirates, the tanks are a liability.  There is no where the tanks can be off loaded, much less stored where they can not be observed.  If the tanks were off loaded, the storage location would be a giveaway to the pirates sponsors location.

Last month, the pirates had captured the MV Iran Deyanat, a ship owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines.  Several pirates have already dies due to the suspicious nature of the cargo which is at this time unknown. (the earlier story can be found here).   There is no update available on the Iranian ship.

More details on this story can be found at Time.