The captain of a hijacked Ukrainian ship off the coast of Somalia says one crew member has died.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
He was speaking to the Associated Press news agency from the deck of the Faina via a satellite phone handed to him by one of the Somali pirates.
Mr Nikolsky said the other crew members are fine and he can see three ships about a mile away, including one carrying an American flag.
The pirates have reportedly demanded a $35m ransom for the vessel which is carrying military weapons.
A man claiming to be a spokesman for the pirates warned of dire consequences if any military action is taken to free the Faina.
The ship was seized on Thursday as it traveled to Kenya with a load of 33 Russian-built T-72 tanks, ammunition and spare parts ordered by the Kenyan government.
In a rare gesture of cooperation, the Americans appear to be keeping an eye on the Faina until the Russian missile frigate Neustrashimy reaches the area.
The USS Howard has the Faina in its sights but "cannot hear what is going on" on board, said a spokesman for the US 5th Fleet.
US Navy Lt Nathan Christensen said the Navy has tried to communicate with the Faina's crew but has got no response.
He said the Navy remains "deeply concerned" over the fate of 21-member crew and the ship's cargo.
Another US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the USS Howard was within a few thousand yards of the Faina, which is anchored a few miles off the Somalia coast.
Pirate attacks worldwide have surged this year and Africa remains the world's top piracy hotspot, with 24 reported attacks in Somalia and 18 in Nigeria this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
Attacking ships has become a regular source of income for pirates in Somalia, a war-torn country without a functioning government since 1991.
Five nations are sharing information to try to secure the swift release of the ship and its crew - Ukraine, Somalia, Russia, the US and Britain.
But Kenya insits it will not negotiate with pirates or terrorists.
Source: SkyNews, Sept 28, 2008