The UK-owned bulk carrier Ariana was sailing under the Maltese flag, and Somali pirates captured the vessel with 24 Ukrainian crew onboard.

Vasily Kirilitch, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry press secretary, confirmed to Interfax that all the sailors are Ukrainian nationals. He said the country’s embassies were instructed to “take prompt measures to set constant contact with ship-owner, operating company and authorities in order to clarify circumstances of the capture and free the sailors as soon as possible”.

It seems that the super powers of the world should be able to stop these pirates.

The Gulf of Aden remains one of the most dangerous places in the modern maritime world. According to Kenya’s foreign minister, Somali pirates have collected more than $150 million in ransoms over the last year. Somalia is a political and economic mess – and piracy offers the chance for a profitable business.

Pirates had a constant presence in the news in September 2008 when they seized the Ukrainian freighter Faina. The ship with a crew of 18 Ukrainians, three Russians and one Latvian was carrying 32 battle tanks and ammunition. This just shows how long these Pirates have been getting away with this.

By Sara Freidman

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