Pirates today took a hijacked German ship and its foreign crew towards a lifeboat off Somalia where a US hostage was being held in an attempt to help their comrades in a standoff with a US naval force.
A pirate source said four pirates holding US ship's captain Richard Phillips in a drifting lifeboat under the gaze of US warships wanted $2 million for his release and a guarantee of their own safety.
They have been holding Mr Phillips, a former Boston taxi driver, since a foiled attempt on Wednesday bid to hijack the 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabamaseveral hundred miles off Somalia.
The pirate source said that another group who hijacked the 20,000-tonne German container vessel, the Hansa Stavanger, a week ago were heading to the scene of the stand-off in the Indian Ocean.
That ship, seized about 400 miles off south Somalia, between Kenya and the Seychelles, is believed to have 24 crew, of whom five are German.
"Knowing that the Americans will not destroy this German ship and its foreign crew, they (the approaching pirates) hope they can meet their friends on the lifeboat," said the pirate, who has given reliable information in the past but asked for his name not to be used.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian-owned, 23-000-tonne tanker Bow Asir,held since the end of March, was released after a ransom was paid by its owners, pirate sources said.
A spokesman for operator Salhus Shipping AS confirmed the vessel, which has a foreign crew of 27, had been released, but gave no further details.
The American hostage, Mr Phillips, leapt into the sea during the night but at least one pirate quickly followed and brought him back, a US official said.
"He didn't get very far," the official said.
The pirate gang holding him remained defiant despite the arrival of US and other naval ships in the area.
"We are not afraid of the Americans," one of the pirates said by satellite phone. "We will defend ourselves if attacked."
In Washington, the Pentagon had no comment on the pirates' plan to move the German vessel or any ransom demand.
Reuters