London: The Belize Register reports that the crew member who died following pirates' attack on Ukrainian ro ro vessel Faina was in fact her Russian Master, Capt. Vladimir Kolobkov, who apparently suffered a heart attack in the days following the seizure of the Belize-flagged vessel by pirates off Somali. Arrangements are being attempted for the transfer and repatriation of his body.
'According to the information received so far, the cargo of 33 T-72 tanks and other military equipment was a lawful cargo carried in compliance with the relevant international agreements,' the Register adds.
Meanwhile, Intermanager, the International Ship Managers' Association, has become the latest shipping body to add its voice to industry calls for urgent military action to end the piracy crisis.
"Historically the military has always protected merchant vessels during times of conflict," states Intermanager's general secretary Guy Morel. "Now is the time for them to do much of the same ?" whether that be in the form of increased patrols or protected convoys. We cannot allow this situation, which gets worse by the week, to continue while our crews and their families suffer." [01/10/08]
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