Update 2 pm EDT: Crew is reported to have retaken the ship. Some reports say the captain is still hostage. Crew may be holding 1 pirate, and 4 are reported to be “in the water”.

Maersk A Class vessel similer to Maersk Alabama

CNN is among the agencies reporting that an America-flagged ship, the Maersk Alabama , has been seized by Somali pirates. It was enroute to Mombasa, Kenya with relief supplies.

As we reported here, Task Force 151 has established a safe-transit lane in the Gulf of Aden where ships will be under the observation and erstwhile protection of the various navies supporting the anti-piracy efforts in the region. We have captured a number of pirates, and the idea was that they would be detained, transferred to Kenya and tried there for piracy.

The forseeable result of creating a safe transit lane was that the pirates would move their attacks elsewhere. That is what has been happening this week, including with the Maersk Alabama.

Maersk Line