Sailors used slingshots against pirates

12.05.2010 The crew of tanker Moscow University gave new details of pirate assault. According to sailors, they had to fight pirates using fire hoses and even shooting ball bearings from slingshots.

Freed crewmembers of Moscow University recently managed to call their relatives and tell new details of the capture. Almost all parents of the "hostages" unanimously insist that pirates fired at their children and even wanted to kill everyone. Before locking themselves in steering room, the crew had been fighting pirates with ball bearings and fire hoses for 20 hours.

"Guys used everything to shoot – flare guns, fire hoses and even slingshots – since there were no arms on board. Thank God, nobody was injured", said the sailors' parents.

When the crewmen succeeded to repel first attack, they locked themselves in machinery room to wait for help. However, pirates continued to fire upon boards and portholes. When they realized their efforts were useless, pirates decided to stink Russian sailors out by gas and even set fire on the door. Many of crewmembers were taken bad due to toxic gas, reports Komsomolskaya Pravda.

We recall that on May 5 Liberian-flagged (Russian-operated) tanker Moscow University carrying 86,000 tons of crude oil and 1,200 tons of bunker fuel from Sudan to China was hijacked by Somali pirates. However, no later than the next day the Russian vessel was freed thanks to skillful actions of Pacific Fleet marines from large ASW ship Marshal Shaposhnikov. Marines assaulted the tanker, disarmed pirates, and came out unscathed; ten pirates were captured, one killed.

After that all pirates were put on inflatable boat and let off in the deep sea. This moment was recorded by video camera, said the source in Navy Main HQ. However, the boat disappeared from the radars in an hour. Top-ranking military official said that pirates "could not reach the shore and probably died", informed Dni.Ru.

According to Mohammed Handule, Somalia's ambassador to Russia, "whether or not pirates died, no need to be worried". Yet there's no information about them. If we find them alive they will face trial, but we're lack of money to search pirates at sea, he commented.

Russia has brilliantly displayed how to deal with pirates, he said. As for the ambassador, Russia's decision to let pirates free is absolutely lawful. We don't blame Russia for any abuse, writes Nezavisimaya Gazeta citing the diplomat.

Mr. Handule also mentioned about own score to settle with pirates. "Being a graduate of Moscow State University, I got to get square with those who hijacked the same-named vessel. Once we find them alive we'll punish them; if they're dead – nothing to worry about", said the ambassador.

The diplomat expressed serious concern about piracy off Somalia. "Over 1,000 persons accused of piracy have been arrested in Somalia. They deserve imprisonment for 15 years and up to life sentence. But we have no resources to retain and judge them. We agree to establish international tribunal for piracy", concluded the ambassador.