Somali Pirates Seize Another Ship; 20+ Americans Captured: UPDATE: Crew Regained Control

Somali piracy has not taken a break. They've been busy in the past week as just two days ago pirates captured a German flagged ship and attacked three other ships this past weekend. Today comes word that a Danish flagged container ship was attacked and 20 or 21 Americans were on board.

The Kenya-based diplomat identified the vessel as the 17,000-ton Maersk Alabama and said all the crew members are American. The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The U.S. Navy confirmed that a U.S. flagged ship with 21 members of crew was hijacked early Wednesday off the eastern coast of Somalia.

Spokesman Lt. Nathan Christensen said the attacked happened in the early hours of the morning hours, about 280 miles (450 kilometers) northeast of Eyl, a town in the northern Puntland region of Somalia.

Christensen said there were U.S. citizens aboard the ship, but he did not say how many. He declined to release the name of the ship until the family members of the crew are notified.

So how are the world powers dealing with this ongoing situation? The British are using email and are adopting some of the pirate tactics, including using larger naval vessels as a mothership while deploying smaller faster boats.

As I've repeatedly noted, the piracy off the Somali coast (and ranging deep into the Indian Ocean as some attacks are occurring hundreds of miles off the coast of Somalia) will not diminish until the various navies take the fight to the safe havens in Somalia where the pirates have their bases of operations. Eliminate the safe havens and the pirates lose their logistical support. So far, no one has the political or military will to do that. Instead, we're forced to deal with a situation where various navies are patrolling waters off Somalia and hope that shifts in the shipping lanes reduce the number of attacks.

UPDATE:
CBS News reports that the American crew fought back and has apparently retaken part of the ship, although the ship's master remains in the hands of the pirates. The AP notes that the crew has apparently contacted their shipping company, Maersk.

The shipping company is in the process of holding a press conference.

The Voice of America wonders whether the pirates have adapted their tactics or whether the international effort to stop the pirates has failed. I'd say a whole lot of both.

UPDATE:
Good news:

"The crew is back in control of the ship," a U.S. official said at midday, speaking on condition of anonymity because she was not authorized to speak on the record. "It's reported that one pirate is on board under crew control—the other three were trying to flee," the official said. The status of the other pirates was unknown, the official said, but they were reported to "be in the water."

Sounds like the other pirates are going to be quite chummy with the sharks before long.