April 08, 2009

Somali Pirates Hijack Maersk Alabama: Updated Crew Takes Ship Back! -

This is a US flagged ship and up to 20 Americans are believed to be part fo the crew.

Via CNN: (CNN) -- Pirates off Somalia's coast on Wednesday attacked a cargo ship with a crew of at least 20 U.S. nationals, according to the company that owns the vessel.

t is believed that the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama was subsequently hijacked, according to a statement from Maersk Line Ltd.

The vessel was en route to Mombasa, Kenya, when it was attacked about 500 kilometers (310 miles) off Somalia's coast, the statement said.

U.S. government sources said the incident happened at about 7:30 a.m. local time. The nearest U.S. Navy warship was about 300 nautical miles away at the time of the hijacking, they said. On Tuesday, the U.S. Navy issued another notice warning mariners that the Somali piracy activity was extending hundreds of miles offshore.

UPDATE: Several news agencies are reporting the crew has retaken the ship from the pirates.

American Crew Regains Control of Hijacked Ship, FOX News Confirms

WASHINGTON — Pentagon officials believe the American crew is back in control of hijacked ship. Somali pirates on Wednesday hijacked a U.S.-flagged cargo ship with 20 American crew members onboard, hundreds of miles from the nearest American military vessel in some of the most dangerous waters in the world.

F*ck Yeah!

Update II:Bad news FOXNEWS is running a crawler that says the Captain is being held hostage. Developing.....we will update further when details become available.

More here Via AP at Miami Herald:

WASHINGTON -- A crew member on the vessel hijacked by pirates is telling The Associated Press that the ship's captain is still being held hostage. The American says negotiations are under way for his release.

The AP called the ship's satellite phone. The man who answered it said the 20-member crew had been taken hostage but managed to seize one pirate and then successfully negotiate their own release.

He says the crew has retaken control of the ship and the pirates are now in a lifeboat. But the man also says that they are holding the ship's captain hostage in the vessel.

Update IV by Stable Hand: The Navy Warship Bainbridge pictured, (image corrected thanks to TL STG1 USN(ret), has arrived on the scene. The link gives some updated information as to what transpired. Captain Phillips still being held hostage, he was the one who convinced the pirates to take him into the lifeboat with them. Wow, just wow.