More News on the Captain's Rescue

Update (4/13/09): The Washington Post describes how, after one pirate gave himself up, the USS Bainbridge had begun towing the lifeboat further out to sea, and the remaining three threatened to kill Capt. Phillips, Navy SEAL snipers shot the pirates on the lifeboat, clearing the way for a rescue.

The New York Times just released the following story with a more detailed account of Captain Richard Phillips's rescue:

Richard Phillips, the captain of an American cargo ship held hostage by four armed Somali pirates, was freed on Sunday after more than 100 hours held at sea, according to a statement released by his shipping company.

Andrea Phillips holds a photo of her husband, Richard Phillips, captain of the U.S.-flagged cargo ship Maersk Alabama.

“Maersk Line, Limited was informed by the U.S. government at 1330 EDT today that Captain Richard Phillips has been rescued,” the statement read. “John Reinhart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Line, Limited, called Captain Phillips’ wife, Andrea, to tell her the good news. The crew of the Maersk Alabama was jubilant when they received word.”

Mr. Phillips was rescued and placed aboard the U.S.S. Bainbridge, CNN reported. He was then flown by helicopter to the U.S.S. Boxer. He has contacted his family and has received a routine medical examination.

“We are all absolutely thrilled to learn that Richard is safe and will be re-united with his family,” Mr. Reinhart added in the statement. “Maersk Line, Limited is deeply grateful to the Navy, the F.B.I. and so many others for their tireless efforts to secure Richard’s freedom..”

Only three pirates were in the boat because one had surrendered early this morning, according to a maritime official who had been monitoring the situation and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The United States fired warning shots Saturday night, followed by a brief exchange of fire. One pirate was either injured or scared, jumped off the boat and surrendered to the United States to the Bainbridge. The justice department will be reviewing evidence to decide whether the surviving pirate, a Justice Department official told CNN.

Just after dark in Somalia, three pirates shot and killed, according to the maritime official. More than 250 hostages being held by various Somalian pirate groups.

Initial reports from CNN said that Mr. Phillips jumped overboard just before the shootout between his captors and Navy Seals ensued near northeastern Somalia. Three of the pirates were killed, according to reports, and one is currently being held in custody. CNN reported that the surviving pirate had been negotiating with American officials.

Citing an anonymous source, the Associated Press said that Mr. Phillips was not injured in the gun battle and that he has been moved to a nearby Navy vessel.

According to CNN, Mr. Phillips’s family said that he had been free for several hours, long before the media learned of his release early Sunday afternoon.

Mr. Reinhart will hold a media briefing in Norfolk, Va., later on Sunday.

The pirates — demanding $2 million in ransom — seized Mr. Phillips on Wednesday and escaped the cargo ship in a motorized lifeboat.

A standoff between the pirates and the United States Navy then ensued until Saturday when negotiations between American officials and the pirates broke down, according to Somali officials, after the Americans insisted that the pirates be arrested and a group of elders representing the pirates refused.

The negotiations broke down hours after the pirates fired on a small United States Navy vessel that had tried to approach the lifeboat not long after sunrise Saturday in the Indian Ocean.

The cargo ship, the Maersk Alabama, a 17,000-ton cargo vessel, pulled into port at 8:30 Saturday evening in Mombasa, Kenya, with its 19 remaining American crew members.

When the crew members heard that their captain had been freed, they placed an American flag over the rail of the top of the ship. They whistled and pumped their fists in the air, The Associated Press reported.

On Saturday, a group of Somali elders from Gara’ad, mediating on behalf of the pirates, spoke by satellite phone to American officials, according to Abdul Aziz Aw Mahamoud, a district commissioner in the semiautonomous region of Puntland in northeastern Somalia. The elders proposed a deal in which the pirates would release Captain Phillips, with no ransom paid, and that the pirates would then be allowed to escape.But Mr. Abdul Aziz said that the Americans insisted that the pirates be handed over to Puntland authorities, and the elders refused. By noon local time, the Americans cut off communications with the elders, he said.

Puntland’s president, Abdirahman Mohamed Faroole, said that he was working closely with American officials to free the captain and “we’re really concerned about the recent attacks.”

“We’re committed to reorganizing our security forces,” he said. "We want to do more to crack down on piracy.”

The interesting debate will now be where and how the captured pirate will be tried. This type of decision has been an ongoing issue for countries who do manage to capture Somali pirates, as can be evidenced by Germany's decision to hand over the seven pirates they captured to Kenya for trial. Stay tuned for more news on the situation!