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Hijacked US crew 'retake vessel' Hijacked US crew 'retake vessel'
(about 1 hour later)
There are conflicting reports about whether the US crew of a container ship seized by pirates off Somalia have regained full control of the ship. US crew members have retaken their hijacked ship but their captain is still being held by Somali pirates on a lifeboat, reports say.
Relatives of the Maersk Alabama's 20 crew and Pentagon sources were quoted in the US media as saying the ship was back under control after a struggle. Pentagon sources and relatives of the Maersk Alabama's 20 crew were earlier quoted as saying the ship was back under control after a struggle.
But more recent reports suggested the captain of the vessel might still be in the hands of the hijackers. But later reports emerged that the captain was still in the hands of the hijackers, adrift in the lifeboat.
It was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in recent days.It was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in recent days.
It is reportedly the first time in 200 years that a US-flagged vessel has been seized by pirates.It is reportedly the first time in 200 years that a US-flagged vessel has been seized by pirates.
Military spokeswoman Lt Col Elizabeth Hibner told Reuters: "It is our understanding that the crew is back in control of the ship." The Associated Press reported that they had spoken to a sailor on board the Maersk Alabama who said the crew had retaken the vessel and one pirate had been captured.
The Associated Press later reported that they had spoken to a sailor with an American accent on board the Maersk Alabama who confirmed that the crew had retaken the vessel and one pirate had been captured.
But the unnamed sailor told AP that three of the pirates were now holding the captain hostage in a lifeboat.But the unnamed sailor told AP that three of the pirates were now holding the captain hostage in a lifeboat.
Government officials told the agency that the details were murky and they declined to confirm the report. The ship's owners later confirmed that the pirates were off the ship but holding the captain.
Crew 'is safe' "We are working closely with the US military and other government agencies to continue to respond to this situation as it develops further and will provide additional information as we are able," Maersk said in a statement.
The ship's owners, Maersk, said they could not confirm that the ship had been retaken.
But chief executive John Reinhart said contact had been made with the crew.
"We have a crisis centre and we have vessel managers and superintendents that are working with the vessel at all times," he told a news conference.
"We had a cell-phone call from a member of the crew that said the crew is safe."
The ship was attacked by several small boats in the early hours of Wednesday in an incident apparently lasting for about five hours.The ship was attacked by several small boats in the early hours of Wednesday in an incident apparently lasting for about five hours.
Maritime officials said the vessel took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded.Maritime officials said the vessel took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded.
More than 130 pirate attacks were reported in 2008, including almost 50 successful hijacks.More than 130 pirate attacks were reported in 2008, including almost 50 successful hijacks.
Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about £80m (£54m).Pirates typically hold the ships and crews until large ransoms are paid by the shipping companies - last year the firms handed over about £80m (£54m).
The huge increase in frequency of attacks has forced several navies to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden to protect one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.The huge increase in frequency of attacks has forced several navies to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden to protect one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.