[Girlene]

From Fox News, Officials Say Pirate Fired Weapon in Captain's Failed Escape

"Defense officials say that one of the pirates holding an American captive fired an automatic weapon when the hostage tried to swim to safety.

Defense officials say it's not clear whether the pirate fired at the fleeing hostage, or into the air. The officials spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk about the sensitive, unfolding operation.

American cargo ship captain Richard Phillips of Underhill, Vt., jumped overboard overnight. He was apparently hoping to reach a U.S. warship standing guard several hundred yards away. The destroyer USS Bainbridge has rescue helicopters aboard, as well as lifeboats. The Bainbridge is keeping its distance, in part to stay out of the pirates' range of fire."

[A Navy Vet]

That's how I thought it most likely went down. Although, I am surprised to learn that the Bainbridge is ONLY "several hundred" yards away.

Still too far to be strafing the lifeboat with M-50 fire in the dead of night. And no shells are going to fired. I can see why the Navy didn't react.

[Girlene]

Second US Navy ship arrives on scene

"A second US Navy ship arrived Friday on the scene of a tense hostage stand-off near the coast of Somalia, where the captain of a US-operated ship was still being held by a group of four pirates, US defence officials confirmed.

The USS Halyburton, a frigate, joined the USS Bainbridge, a destroyer that had arrived Thursday morning and taken up negotiations with the pirates, according to Commander Peter Schneider, a spokesman for the US Defence Department. "...................

...................."Phillips reportedly attempted to escape from his captors early Friday morning, leaping from the lifeboat in a daring attempt to swim to the Bainbridge. He was recaptured and apparently unharmed.

Schneider said the Navy had not been in contact with the captain since the incident. ".................