THE TENSION: Combat Camera: US Warships Monitor Vessel Taken by Pirates Off Somalia Coast; Update 3

INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 30, 2008) -- The commanding officer of a U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser monitors the pirated motor vessel (M/V) Faina off the coast of Somalia while one of his helicopters provides aerial surveillance. The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by "Kaalbye Shipping Ukraine" and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked on Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. U.S. 5th Fleet conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky.)

INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 30, 2008) -- The commanding officer of a U.S. Navy guided-missile cruiser monitors the pirated motor vessel (M/V) Faina off the coast of Somalia. The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by "Kaalbye Shipping Ukraine" and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked on Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. U.S. 5th Fleet conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky.)

HOYBYO, Somalia (Sept. 30, 2008) Pirates holding the merchant vessel MV Faina receive supplies Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008 while under observation by a U.S. Navy ship. The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by Kaalybe Shipping, Ukraine and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked Sept. 28 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric L. Beauregard.)

HOYBYO, Somalia (Sept. 29, 2008) The pirated vessel MV Centauri as observed by the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). MV Centauri is anchored in the vicinity of MV Faina, off the coast of Hoybyo, Somalia. Several U.S. Navy ships are in the area monitoring the situation. U.S. 5th Fleet conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Zalasky.)

OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA (September 29, 2008) - Pirates holding MV Faina conduct resupply while under observation by a U.S. Navy Ship.The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by "Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine" and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked on Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Zalasky.)

INDIAN OCEAN (Sept. 28, 2008) MV Faina as observed by the crew of the guided-missile destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83). The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by "Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine" and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. Howard is deployed with the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo.)

MV Faina as observed by the crew of USS Howard (DDG 83). The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by “Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine” and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked on Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. Howard is deployed with the 5th Fleet conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (Official U.S. Navy Photo.)

OFF THE COAST OF SOMALIA (September 29, 2008) -- MV Faina as observed by a U.S. Navy ship. The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by “Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine” and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked on Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. U.S. 5th Fleet conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Zalasky.)

THE COAST OF SOMALIA (September 29, 2008) -- MV Faina as observed by a U.S. Navy ship. The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by “Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine” and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked on Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. U.S. 5th Fleet conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason Zalasky.)

Somali pirates in small boats were able to hijack the MV Faina, a Belize-flagged cargo ship owned and operated by 'Kaalbye Shipping Ukraine." The ship is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. It had no on board security when it was attacked on Sept. 25 and was forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. (Official U.S. Navy Photo.)

MV Faina as observed by the crew of USS Howard (DDG 83). The Belize-flagged cargo ship is owned and operated by "Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine" and is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. The ship was attacked on Sept. 25 and forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. Howard is deployed with the 5th Fleet conducting Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to promote stability and regional economic prosperity. (Official U.S. Navy Photo.)

Somali pirates in small boats were able to hijack the MV Faina, a Belize-flagged cargo ship owned and operated by "Kaalbye Shipping Ukraine." The ship is carrying a cargo of Ukrainian T-72 tanks and related equipment. It had no on board security when it was attacked on Sept. 25 and was forced to proceed to an anchorage off the Somali Coast. (Official U.S. Navy Photo.)

In this 2008 file photo, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Howard (DDG 83) steams through the Pacific Ocean during a simulated straights transit and small boat attack drill. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kathleen Gorby.)

In this file photo, the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) deploys as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group to support maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Tyler J. Wilson.)

Dispatches from the Front:

MANAMA, Bahrain, Sept. 29, 2008 -- Several U.S. ships are now operating in the vicinity of Motor Vessel Faina, the Belize-flagged cargo ship, which was captured Sept. 25 and is anchored off the coast of Somalia near the harbor city of Hobyo.

The U.S. 5th Fleet continues to actively monitor the situation.

“We will maintain a vigilant watch over the ship and remain on station while negotiations take place,” said Rear Adm. Kendall Card, Task Force Commander leading the efforts to prevent the weapons onboard M/V Faina from being offloaded from the ship. “Our goal is to ensure the safety of the crew, to not allow off-loading of dangerous cargo and to make certain Faina can return to legitimate shipping.”

This incident highlights the complexity of the situation in the region. MV Faina is owned and operated by "Kaalybe Shipping Ukraine" and is carrying a cargo of T-72 tanks and related equipment. Its crew is comprised of citizens from Ukraine, Russia and Latvia. There is no indication that the ship had a security team aboard.

(Story from Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/5th Fleet Public Affairs.)

NOTE: This is an update of an earlier article.