Pirates on captured German ship fail to locate comrades

The German Flagged M/V Hansa Stavanger, hijacked on April 4th by pirates (file photo courtesy Dennis Shum and Tylon Leung)

A very good piece of news indeed.  Pirates aboard the captured German ship M/V Hansa Stavanger with 24 hostages on board failed to locate their fellow pirates aboard the lifeboat with Capt. Phillips from the Maersk Alabama.  The New York Times reports:

The pirates had hoped to use the hijacked 20,000-tonne container vessel, Hansa Stavanger, as a “shield” to reach fellow pirates holding American ship captain Richard Phillips far out in the Indian Ocean. U.S. naval ships are close to the lifeboat.

“We have come back to Haradheere coast. We could not locate the lifeboat,” one pirate on the German ship, who identified himself as Suleiman, told Reuters.

The German ship was seized off south Somalia between Kenya and the Seychelles and has a crew of 24.

Somali elders and relatives of pirates holding Phillips are planning a mediation mission, a regional maritime group said.

Meanwhile, the standoff continues at sea aboard the Maersk Alabama lifeboat and 3 warships from the U.S. Navy.  The amphibious assault ship USS Boxer and the frigate USS Halyburton have reportedly arrived on-scene and joined the destroyer USS Bainbridge.

Maersk has also released a new press release:

Norfolk, Va., April 11, 2009: Maersk Line, Limited today announced that the Maersk Alabama is expected to arrive at the Port of Mombasa, Kenya, late on Saturday, April 11, local time.
Representatives of Maersk Line, Limited are in Mombasa from the U.S. to meet the vessel and assist the 19 crewmembers, all U.S. citizens, with onward arrangements.

For security reasons, the vessel will berth in a restricted area of the port and will not be accessible to the media.  FBI officers will debrief members of the crew on board the vessel before they disembark. The crew will not be available to the media in Mombasa. All media inquires should be directed to the Norfolk office of Maersk Line, Limited at the number provided above. No media liaison is available in Mombasa.

John Reinhart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Line, Limited, will brief the media on the situation of the crew at 3:30 pm EDT in Norfolk, Va.  Media may also listen to the briefing at the numbers below.

WHAT:
Media Briefing with Maersk Line, Limited CEO John Reinhart

WHEN:
Saturday, April 11, 2009 at 3:30 pm EDT

WHERE:
Marriott Waterside Hotel
Second Floor, Coral Sea Ballroom
235 East Main Street
Norfolk, VA  23510

DIAL-IN DETAILS:
U.S. call-in: 877.662.3775
International call-in:  +1 574-941-6228
Entry code: 7033510138#

The primary contact for information at Maersk Line, Limited is Kevin Speers at +1 (757) 531-7873. Please note this new telephone number.