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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Drama as US crew recapture vessel | Drama as US crew recapture vessel |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| US crew members have recaptured their ship after it was hijacked by Somali pirates, but their captain is still being held hostage by the attackers. | |
| The Maersk Alabama was taken by the pirates about 500km (311 miles) off Somalia's coast after a lengthy battle. | The Maersk Alabama was taken by the pirates about 500km (311 miles) off Somalia's coast after a lengthy battle. |
| The crew later fought back and retook the ship, but the captain was captured by the pirates who fled in a lifeboat, crew members have told US media. | The crew later fought back and retook the ship, but the captain was captured by the pirates who fled in a lifeboat, crew members have told US media. |
| A US warship and other vessels are speeding towards the scene. | A US warship and other vessels are speeding towards the scene. |
| The cruise-missile carrying USS Bainbridge is among the ships the US Navy has despatched, officials told the Associated Press. | The cruise-missile carrying USS Bainbridge is among the ships the US Navy has despatched, officials told the Associated Press. |
| US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the government was following the situation very closely and urged the world to act to end the "scourge" of piracy. | |
| 'No injuries' | 'No injuries' |
| US media have telephoned members of the ship's crew to get details of their struggle against the pirates. | US media have telephoned members of the ship's crew to get details of their struggle against the pirates. |
| Second mate Ken Quinn told CNN how the crew captured one of the pirates and kept him tied up for 12 hours. | Second mate Ken Quinn told CNN how the crew captured one of the pirates and kept him tied up for 12 hours. |
| As they attempted to negotiate the release of their captain, who has been named as Richard Phillips, they freed the captive attacker. | As they attempted to negotiate the release of their captain, who has been named as Richard Phillips, they freed the captive attacker. |
| But the gang refused to free Capt Phillips. | But the gang refused to free Capt Phillips. |
| "Right now they want to hold our captain for ransom, and we are trying to get him back," second mate Quinn said. | "Right now they want to hold our captain for ransom, and we are trying to get him back," second mate Quinn said. |
| "So now we're just trying to offer them whatever we can - food. But it's not working too good." | "So now we're just trying to offer them whatever we can - food. But it's not working too good." |
| He said the attackers had fled in a lifeboat and crew members were using radios to keep in contact with Capt Phillips. | He said the attackers had fled in a lifeboat and crew members were using radios to keep in contact with Capt Phillips. |
| In a statement, the ship's owners, Maersk, confirmed much of the sailor's account. | In a statement, the ship's owners, Maersk, confirmed much of the sailor's account. |
| "The armed hijackers who boarded this ship earlier today have departed, however they are currently holding one member of the ship's crew as a hostage," Maersk said. | "The armed hijackers who boarded this ship earlier today have departed, however they are currently holding one member of the ship's crew as a hostage," Maersk said. |
| "The other members of the crew are safe and no injuries have been reported." | "The other members of the crew are safe and no injuries have been reported." |
| Upsurge in hijackings | Upsurge in hijackings |
| The ship was first attacked by several pirate boats in the early hours of Wednesday. | The ship was first attacked by several pirate boats in the early hours of Wednesday. |
| It is not clear how many attackers were involved, but accounts from the sailors on the Maersk Alabama suggest that four boarded the vessel. | It is not clear how many attackers were involved, but accounts from the sailors on the Maersk Alabama suggest that four boarded the vessel. |
| Maritime officials said the ship took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. | Maritime officials said the ship took all possible evasive action before it reported that the pirates had boarded. |
| Pirate attacks have been increasing rapidly in recent years - more than 130 incidents were reported in 2008, including almost 50 successful hijacks. | Pirate attacks have been increasing rapidly in recent years - more than 130 incidents 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). |
| After a lull earlier this year, this was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in the past week. | After a lull earlier this year, this was the sixth ship seized off Somalia in the past week. |
| The attacks are threatening to destabilise one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. | The attacks are threatening to destabilise one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. |