US navy eyes Ukrainian ship seized by pirates

US navy vessels yesterday stayed close to a Ukrainian ship hijacked by pirates with 33 tanks and other military hardware on board in one of the most worrying of a rash of attacks this year off lawless Somalia.

The Gulf-based Fifth Fleet sent destroyer USS Howard and other boats to within sight of the MV Faina and its 21 crew members taken last week en route to Kenya's Mombasa port.

"There are now several Fifth Fleet ships in the vicinity," said the fleet's deputy spokesman Lieutenant Nathan Christensen. "We are deeply concerned about the state of the crew and the cargo of the ship. Our goal is to maintain a vigilant and visual watch over the ship while negotiations take place."