Washington, April 10, 2009 – Within 48 hours more naval ships will join the destroyer USS Bainbridge, which arrived overnight to help secure the release of the American, US defense officials said.
The move comes after Somali pirates defied the might of the US military by refusing to release the captain of an American cargo ship kidnapped in a bungled hijack attempt.
FBI hostage negotiation specialists were called in to help free Captain Richard Phillips, who was being held by a small group of gunmen in a lifeboat in waters close to where his vessel, the US-flagged Maersk Alabama, was briefly seized by pirates on Wednesday. The lifeboat was reported to have run out of fuel.
The Bainbridge, a US guided missile destroyer carrying two Seahawk helicopters, arrived at the scene before dawn on Thursday but failed to force an end to the stand-off.
US President Barack Obama was being kept updated on the high-seas drama which threatened to blow up into his first serious foreign policy crisis situations. But he has repeatedly refused to answer reporters' questions about the drama.
Richard Kolko, a spokesman for the FBI, said negotiators from his department were "fully engaged in this matter".
At the same time as efforts continued to free Mr Phillips, the Maersk Alabama has left the area and was on its way south towards Kenya with 18 armed US Navy sailors onboard.
It is expected in Mombasa, Kenya's main port, by Saturday night.
Pirates seized the Danish-owned 17,500-ton container ship on Wednesday as it carried food aid south past Somalia's coast en route to the Kenyan port of Mombasa.
But its crew of 20 reportedly unarmed Americans then dramatically overpowered the pirates, likely armed with Kalashnikov automatic rifles, to retake control of their vessel.
In the fight-back, however, the four Somali gunmen took Mr Phillips, 55, hostage as they fled into one of the Maersk Alabama's lifeboats.
"We are on pins and needles," said Gina Coggio, 29, half-sister of Mr Phillips' wife, Andrea.
"I know the crew has been in touch with their own family members, and we're hoping we'll hear from Richard soon."
The lifeboat was said to be "dead in the water' after running out of fuel early yesterday, and was drifting in calm seas within sight of the Bainbridge.
It was unclear what actions officers on the warship were considering, although Pentagon staff said that they were "trying to resolve this in a peaceful manner".
The Bainbridge is one of the US Navy's most modern destroyers, with 96 surface-to-air, Tomahawk and anti-submarine missiles.
It is named after William Bainbridge, a US naval commander who fought against the Barbary pirates off North Africa in the early 19th century.
Aggressive military action is unlikely, however, as it could put Mr Phillips' life in danger. US military officials refused to be drawn on possible strategies.
Mr Phillips was apparently taken hostage in a prisoner exchange which went wrong.
"What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," said Miss Coggio. "That is what he would do. It's just who he is and his response as a captain."
It was agreed that Capt Phillips, who had apparently earlier offered himself as a prisoner, would be exchanged for the seized pirate.
But he was instead bundled into the lifeboat, which cast off and sped away from the Maersk Alabama.
Source: Telegraph.co.uk







 

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