|
From:
David Bellavia,
alias Felix Gutierrez
Date: August 29, 2009 2:03:22 AM PDT
To: Gary S. Gevisser
Subject: sparkling
Topic:
Hijacking of the Arctic
Sea
Overview:
On or about 23 July 2009 the 4,000
ton dry cargo vessel Arctic
Sea left
port from Finland with a destined dock date in Bejaia, Algeria of 4
August 2009. This vessel was Maltese registered and owned by Sokhart
Management carrying just under 2 million (US dollars) in what the
ships log described as “lumber shavings and paper pulp.”
Arctic Sea’s crew consisted of 13,
mostly Russian and Latvian nationals. Crew members reported that on
or about July 24, 2009, ten heavily armed, masked men boarded the
Arctic Sea and bound the crew. After a 12 hour search of the vessel
the “pirates” departed without warning, no one was injured and
nothing was taken from the vessel. The crew reported the incident
and continued to their destination: Algeria
Four days later, on 28 July 2009 at
approximately 0325 hours, 12 masked men, wearing black tactical
military styled uniforms with white printing on the back that read
“Policia” boarded the Arctic Sea. There was no confirmation that
these were the same men from six days previous. The “pirates” spoke
broken English, although no member of the 13 man crew spoke any
language but their native tongue. After the ship was seized, the 13
man crew was bound and assaulted (broken bones and severe
lacerations) the ships course was changed and the navigational
system was deactivated.
On 29 July 2009 British coastguard
vessels would make routine contact with the Arctic Sea just off the
coast of Northern France and hours later it would disappear off the
radar all together. The last radio contact was made by Swedish
officials and when they spoke to the captain of the vessel, in
Russian, on 31 July 2009. There were no reports of any “abnormal
activity.”
For a period of 16 days, no European radar or satellite imagery
could pick up a trace of the vessel. The Arctic Sea was missing.
Ukrainian sources would inform
“Western Powers” that on or about 14 July 2009, the Arctic Sea went
through ten days of preparation in the highly trafficked sea port of Kaliningrad, Russia,
just 50 km northeast of Gdansk. Ukrainian sources would inform
“Western Powers” that the bulkhead of the Arctic Sea was dismantled
making it easier for the possible transport of military ballistic
weapon contraband or conventional anti-aircraft armaments. The
sources also relayed that prior alleged “weapon shipments” to
countries such as Syria and Iran have also launched from North
Africa.
Multiple containers were removed and some were reorganized from
their original positions. The crew of the Arctic Sea would later
reveal upon questioning that the crew was kept away from the
“mechanical operations” and they “understood they may be carrying
something other than their manifest.” The weight in Kaliningrad was
noted to be just under 6,500 tons of “wood shavings” which is quite
different than the 4,000 weight limit of the vessel. This can be
attributed to a simple error or perhaps the actual weight of the
current freight which was added erroneously, but according to the
Arctic Sea’s paperwork, all cargo was loaded and registered in
Finland.
1 August 2009, “pirates” allegedly on board the Arctic Sea call
undisclosed authorities in Russia and claim to “blow up the ship”
unless their demands are met. The asking price for the ransom is
never disclosed and the number to the ship is never given to other
intelligence agencies for assistance. No further contact is made,
according to Russian authorities.
2 August 2009 the Russian military spokesman confirms that the
counter submarine vessel Ladny is sent that morning to intercept the
Arctic Sea as it heads out toward the Atlantic Ocean. No one else in
the Russian military or the media is even alerted to this being of
any “significant importance that would dictate a naval intercept.”
No fixed wing or orbital platform airships are acknowledged to be
launched to cross international air space.
When the Arctic Sea doesn’t port at Bejaia, Algeria on 4 August, the
international media is alerted that the Arctic Sea is lost with no
“Western Power” tracking it from sky or by sea.
United States Naval ships, already in the area, are alerted but vow
to allow Russia to handle the recovery of the Arctic Sea and stand
by to provide “support” if needed.
14 August 2009, American vessels
locate the Arctic Sea and report on radar the Russian Ladny closing
fast on Cape Verde Island off the West Coast of Africa in
international waters. Ground surveillance sources allege that dozens
of “Hazmat” dressed individuals comb the ship and 1/3 of the
containers are removed with” heavy equipment.”
At that time investigators confirm
deep welding torch signatures and portions of the bulkhead that
appeared to have been “hastily” removed. The Arctic Sea in its
natural state would not be able to carry any such cargo unless the
heavy bulk head was removed.
16 August 2009, the repatriation
of the Arctic Sea is announced by the Portuguese media. Reports
claim the Arctic Sea was ordered to stop by the Ladny and when the
ship complied the Russian forces boarded. The Russian Ministry of
Defense reports that the Arctic Sea anchors almost 500km from the
island, although other sources report that the Arctic Sea was docked
and “heavy equipment was removing cargo.” According to Russian and
Portuguese media, The Ladny anchors nearby and Russian authorities
detain 8 “pirates” from Estonia, Latvia and Russia. They are quickly
taken back in helicopters and sent back to Russia to face charges.
No weapons are found on the Arctic
Sea. Ground surveillance sources reveal that four Ray Ban sunglasses
bags, stretched low and “heavily burdened” are carried off the
Arctic Sea. When opened, Russian authorities gather “spastically”
around, some holding their palms up to inspect while others “crane
their heads in close to see the small contents.” The contents
cannot be authenticated but it is believed to have “high value” and
not “traditional currency.”
Repelling harnesses, D rings, 20
meters of rope, star cluster flares and a high speed inflatable boat
were seized on the decks of the Arctic Sea. One source noted later
that, “the pilot of that inflatable boat would have to be an expert
to navigate the choppy waters and the heavy disproportionate wake of
the Arctic Sea near Finland or France.”
The waterways in which the Arctic Sea
was hijacked are amongst some of the busiest and highly trafficked
shipping lanes in the world. From a tactical standpoint the pirates
would have been much better served to wait for the ship to near
Northern Africa than to attack the Arctic Sea near France where they
could be easily spotted by any number of merchant vessels.
Also of note, 16 August 2009, Israeli
President Shimon Peres meets hastily with President Dmitry Medvedev
to discuss immediately cutting off all shipments of missile
technology, training and development from Russia to the Islamic Republic
of Iran.
http://jta.org/news/article/2009/08/16/1007271/peres-to-meet-medvedev |
