Navy Arrives

Date: 4/9/2009

Source: FOX News

Link: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,513258,00.html

Main Points:

1. The crew of the Maersk Alabama was able to regain control of the vessel Wednesday, but the pirates escaped with the captain as a captive.

2. Kevin Speers, a spokesman for the owner of ship, told the Associated Press that a U.S. Navy warship arrived at the scene, and the pirates and their hostage were a short distance away in one of the ship's lifeboats.

3. Family members said Capt. Richard Phillips surrendered to the pirates to secure the safety of the crew.

4. "What I understand is that he offered himself as the hostage," said Gina Coggio, 29, half sister of Phillips' wife. "That is what he would do. It's just who he is and his response as a captain."

5. Wednesday's incident was the first such hostage-taking involving U.S. citizens in 200 years.

Comment: I am very curious to see how this will end. The pirates have been doing this for a while now, but never to Americans. They tried to highjack a cruise ship with 1,000 passengers last year, but no success.