NAIROBI, Kenya — U.S. warships are trying to stop Somali pirates from sending reinforcements to a lifeboat where an American captain is being held hostage as the high-seas standoff off Africa's eastern coast entered a fourth day Saturday.
. . . A Nairobi-based diplomat, who spoke on condition on anonymity because he is not authorized to talk to reporters, said the pirates have summoned assistance but at least two American ships and U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft are deterring pirate ships and skiffs from contact with the lifeboat.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates hijacked an American-owned tugboat with 16 crew in the Gulf of Aden, the head of a Kenyan seafarers' program said Saturday.
Nairobi-based Italian Ambassador Pierandrea Magistrati said he only could confirm that "there is a boat that has been hijacked, I believe by Somali pirates."
The hijacking took place as the American captain of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama was still being held hostage on a lifeboat being watched by two U.S. warships.
. . . the Italian-flagged U.S. tugboat was towing two barges when it was attacked. . . it was unclear if the attack took place off the coast of Somalia or further north near Yemen.
The four pirates are still holding Captain Phillips from the Maersk Alabama in an enclosed lifeboat over 350 miles oft the coast of Somalia, surrounded by US warships.
The pirates in the lifeboat have reportedly called for reinforcrments from other pirate thugs, who have supposedly responded by sailing towards the area in other hijacked and held ships, WiTH hostages from a number of nations on board...
Unconfirmed reports say none of those additional pirate ships have successfully reached the lifeboat, and the first one to arrive in the area was turned back by the Navy.
The Nay has not confirmed any of this.
The Maersk Alabama will be arriving at the port of Mombasso shortly - probably within the next hour or so -
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama, whose captain is being held by pirates on a lifeboat, is expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya, late Saturday, Maersk Line Limited said.
. . .
John Reinhart, Maersk president and CEO, is to hold a news conference at 3:30 p.m. ET in Norfolk, Virginia, where the ship is based. Representatives of Maersk will meet the vessel and its crew members, all Americans, the shipping company said in a written statement.
"For security reasons, the vessel will berth in a restricted area of the port and will not be accessible to the media.. . .
In another development, yesterday, the French military staged a rescue operation of a yacht that had been siezed by pirates inthe Gullf of Aden last weekend.
The military had tried negotiating with the pirates, who were holding four hostages on the yacht Tanit, including a mother, father, and small child, and threatened to execute them one-by-one --
Two pirates, and the father of the child were killed. It is not yet known if the pirates killed the father, or if he was killed during the rescue operation.
The Maersk Alabama has now arrived at the port of Mombasso, Kenya, and is in the process ofdockiing.
Although the captain is not onboard (he is still in the hands of the pirates) there is extra armed security sailing with the crew, from the US Navy. The ship is currenntly under command of First Officer, Shane Merphy, who has, or coursenow assumed the titlel of Captain in the apsense of Captai Philllips..
Officials will be boarding the ship to debrief the crew, who will be flown home to America, hopefully tomorrow.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Somali pirates hijacked an American-owned tugboat with 16 crew in the Gulf of Aden, the head of a Kenyan seafarers' program said Saturday.
Nairobi-based Italian Ambassador Pierandrea Magistrati said he only could confirm that "there is a boat that has been hijacked, I believe by Somali pirates."
The hijacking took place as the American captain of the U.S.-flagged Maersk Alabama was still being held hostage on a lifeboat being watched by two U.S. warships.
Updated reports on this situation area NOT calling this a US owned tup. Indications in the media are now that the tug is Italian flagged AND Italian owned.
Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers
-
Centrum Deck
-
Cruise Places
-
Africa
-
Real Life Pirate Attacks on the Rise
#
Linear Mode
