MV Faina

The MV Faina is the name of a Ukrainian freighter that was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 25, 2008, after crossing the Suez Canal in the Red Sea.The New York Times: U.S. Navy Eyes Ukrainian Ship... (September 29, 2008)

The USS Howard, a Naval destroyer of the 5th Fleet, made visual contact with the MV Faina on September 29, 2008.Kenya Broadcasting Corporation: US Navy nears... (September 29, 2008)

Somali pirate attacks have become common in the region, particularly since the collapse of the Siad Barre government in Somalia in 1991. For six months in 2006, the Union of Islamic Courts controlled Somalia and nearly all piracy ceased. But in 2008 piracy has redeveloped in the region.Christian Science Monitor: Stolen tanks add urgency to piracy fight (September 30, 2008)

The Kenyan government reported that the ship was en route to the Kenyan port of Mombasa when it was hijacked, and the cargo was part of an ongoing governmental level contract with Ukraine. U.S. Naval spokesman Nathan Christensen claimed that the cargo was instead headed to Sudan. If so, the 33 T-72 tanks may have been intended for one or more of the rebel groups in Darfur province.Al Arabiya: US Navy says Ukraine arms cargo for Sudan (September 29, 2008)