As a tech blog this isn’t supposed to be a content of this blog, especially not after so long break. But no matter how awkward the topic may seem I insist that technology has everything to do with this topic, just in different ways. So what’s the catch?
I will spare you the ongoing showdown of Ukrainian cargo vessel Faina held by pirates which you can pickup from almost any news site. Whole worlds knows the Faina is currently moored off Somalia’s coast close to the town of Hoboyo (long: 5.34583; Lat: 48.540688). According to most of the news agencies a US navy ship is nearby providing a blockade to the pirate so they won’t be able to unload the cargos of the ship, which happens to be 13 Russian made T-72 tanks, rifles and heavy weapons. You got to admit, that’s a hell of a fire power under any circumstances. Just for curiosity I was playing with Google, yahoo and Live map and end up locating this (see bellow), which don’t look like US warship to me and way off the reported location—and certainly there is no other ship can be seen nearby.
The big question–who’s ship is that? and what it’s doing so near to coastline? I am no mariner but well aware that sheep that size don’t usually float around so closed to coast and obviously you can see that isn’t any cargo vessel. remember I was saying the technological aspects of this post? well here it is–if I can track that ship with Google map, why can’t proper authorities find possible pirate towns, ships etc. with their multi-billion dollar satellites? French and American military got bases in that region yet never able to counter any pirate attacks even though they had higher technical advantage.
Gulf of Aden is strategic place, so proper surveillance and strategical deployment of forces can easily give those Somali pirates a hard run for their money.
if international community really give 100% effort without freaking political and oil glory this will be just a piece a cake. Come on we are talking about trained mariners, naval strategists vs. some sick minded half educated warlords.
Update one: Second ship located off the coast of Dabaro (~20km)
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It wouldn’t surprise me if these are actually Russian vessels. They have been very quiet about when their ship will reach the area, and it really should be there by now.
My hunch is they will be trying something to free to ship - mainly because this was an illegal arms sale by the Ukraine and they are into a pissing match with them because Ukraine sold arms to Georgia.
Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
Looks like an old landing ship, with the bridge aft, but it’s hard to tell from this perspective.
loads of ships are abandonned so shippers do not need to pay for dismantling. This is tipically a dead ship having been wripped to pieces by locals
sorry mate