US Navy fires shots at SVITZER KORSAKOV pirates

Shipping Times 12 Feb 2008 : Pirates' colleagues attacked by US navy warships as they attempt to re-supply hijacked tug... US Navy ships attacked gangs attempting to re-supply the captured tug SVITZER KARSOKOV off the Somalian coast yesterday. The tug was hijacked by pirates last week and has on board a British captain, Irish engineer, a Russian Chief Officer and three Russian crewmen. It is understood neither of these individuals have been harmed either in the US attack or by the pirates themselves. The tug was captured on the first of February and has been lying some 40 km off the coast of Puntland, a region of Somalia, ever since. Quite why the vessel was targeted is unclear, as she of course carries no cargo or anything of value to the pirates, but it is known for ships to be seized in this region and then a ransom demanded. As yet no details have been forthcoming from Svitzer who are asking news agencies to respect the privacy of the crew and their families as well as the sensitive nature of the incident. Svitzer say they are in contact with the vessel and that all of the crew are safe and well. The company says that the families of the crew receive support from Svitzer on a daily basis. Nato, the UK, Russia and the US are watching the situation closely. The US Navy declined to comment on the reports of the shelling yesterday however it is understood the gang attempting to supply the tug were dispersed without casualties. The vessel was on her delivery voyage after being built at a St Petersburg shipyard ( Admiralteyskiy Sudostroitelnyy Zavod ) and was making her way to her first job at Sakhalin Island, situated between North West Japan and Russia. She is one of two tugs built for Svitzer Sakhalin and the pair are the first to be built for Svitzer in Russia.