Posted on 06/18/2012 10:24:20 PM PDT by Steelfish
Britain Stops Russian Ship Carrying Attack Helicopters For Syria A Russian ship believed to be carrying helicopters and missiles for Syria has been effectively stopped in its tracks off the coast of Scotland after its insurance was cancelled at the behest of the British government.
The MV Alaed which altered course after being hailed by Dutch authorities and was north-west of Scotland last night By Richard Spencer, Adrian Blomfield and David Millward
18 Jun 2012 The British marine insurer Standard Club said it had withdrawn cover from all the ships owned by Femco, a Russian cargo line, including the MV Alaed.
"We were made aware of the allegations that the Alaed was carrying munitions destined for Syria," the company said in a statement. "We have already informed the ship owner that their insurance cover ceased automatically in view of the nature of the voyage." British security officials confirmed they had told Standard Club that providing insurance to the shipment was likely to be a breach of European Union sanctions against the Syrian regime.
They said they were continuing to monitor the ship, which has been the subject of a fierce international row since US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last week revealed it was adding to the arsenal of weaponry available for Mr Assad to use against rebellious Syrian towns.
"We have various ways of keeping track of this ship and that is what we are doing," a source told The Daily Telegraph.
The MV Alaed picked up its cargo of Mi25 helicopters known as "flying tanks" from the Russian port of Kaliningrad, where they had been sent to the state-owned manufacturer Mil's "Factory 150" for servicing and repairs.
They were originally sold to the Syrian government by Moscow, its major arms supplier, at the end of the....
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Check...
WTF? Was the ship in international waters? The EU can impede maritime traffic because they haven’t purchased insurance from the EU banksters? Sounds like an act of war to me.
Torpedos tend to reflect poorly on actuary tables....
Russia to send Warships to Syria
Hmmm, I wonder if Putin is engineering a way for the boy king to look "Presidential," amd like a great "Leader."
Let's watch and see.
Sure sounds strange. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want the Russkies to arm the Syrians. But its a strange world when regional military powers are stopped cold in their tracks because of an insurance dispute. LOL.
I suppose what’s really going on is a game of cat and mouse. Russia didn’t send the equipment directly they did it clandestinely, using private carriers and probably private arms dealers to make it look arms length. Everyone saves face and it isn’t an act of war because Britain is not stopping Russian military, instead its just a commercial dispute.
Is Barry hiding under the desk in the Oval Office waiting for Britian to declare the ship international evil?
“Vlad please don’t push me buddy, you know that I’ll have many more options in a few months!”
It sounds as if the insurer cancelled coverage the shipping company had bought.
Yea “ State Farm is There”!!!!!!!!!
Makes me wonder if the insurance company is concerned that one of those ships may get lost and sunk by an errand and unidentified torpedo.
If the shipment was made illegal by EU action, the insurance company was probably within its rights (even bound by law) to cancel the coverage.
The Russians have had a naval base at Tartus in Syria since 1971. They want to expand it so that they can launch more naval operations in the Mediterranean.
This is why they are selling arms to Bashar al-Assad and backing up his regime.
Russia sold the helicopters to Syria long ago. Apparently they’ve been in Russia for some time to be refurbished. It will be interesting to see what happens to the shipload of men and equipment being loaded in Sevastopol. I think that’s a Russian naval vessel. I doubt they worry about insurance.
The helicopters should have been shipped to Syria when the Admiral Kuznetsov was there in January. We’re better off with the Syrians killing members of the Muslim Brotherhood rather than having them around to destabilize other countries.
When the Barbary pirates asked us to pay tribute (aka insurance) it was an act of war.
I could care less about the Syrian fight, when are we going to realize playing world policeman, especially when it comes to muslims killing muslims, is bankrupting this country? Let them kill each other or let the French or the Germans or whoever police them.
Very interesting. Thanks for posting.
How much less could you care?
There is a LONNNNNNNG history of the Mi25 “Hind-D” attack helicopter being used by the Soviets and Russians to oppressive civilians everywhere. One just has to think of Nicaragua in the mid 1980s used against the Contras and civilian areas in Nicaragua. Glad they got those bastards.
especially when it comes to muslims killing muslims
That’s why we need Assad to stay in power. If he goes it will turn into Muslims killing Christians.
The next step is for Russian warships to accompany the shipment. Brits will be reduced to watching that through heavy lenses.
has been effectively stopped in its tracks off the coast of Scotland after its insurance was cancelled...
Wow! What an idea.....bloodless war! Simply cancel their insurance and they can’t drive, fly or sail any of their military hardware. It is a good “touchy-feely”, environmentally correct and sensitive way to win a war.
Yeah! That’s the ticket...a Politically Correct defense system with insurance companies at the ready.
The Russian company (likley run by the Kremlin) was probably hoping no one would connect them and their insurance policy ot the helo transfer. If Moskow wanted to underwrite the voyage, they could certainly do so.
If I was writing ship insurance policies, I would also include a clause regarding the carrying of military supplies. This may very well have been the reason why the U.S. Navy got so many old clunkers out of the Inactive Ships anchorages for Gulf War I. They were self-insured.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.