USS Bainbridge Arrives at Maersk Alabama Site

The U.S.S. Bainbridge was among several U.S. ships that had been patrolling in the region.

The U.S.S. Bainbridge is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, with a displacement of 9,200 tons and a length of 509 ft 6 in., carries 270 officers and enlisted men, and has two SH-60 SeaHawk helicopters in addition to its own armament.

The pirates still have the Maersk Alabama's captain, Richard Phillips, as a hostage, but besides the U.S.S. Bainbridge, other warships are on the way. Piracy expert Roger Middleton from London-based think tank Chatham House said the pirates are in a tough spot.

"The pirates are in a very, very tight corner. They've got only one guy, they've got nowhere to hide him, they've got no way to defend themselves effectively against the military who are on the way and they are hundreds of miles from Somalia. If I was a pirate at this point, I think I'd resign and take up gardening."

An option for the pirates, Middleton said, besides gardening, would be to try to get to a mothership. But that's not going to be easy with the U.S.S. Bainbridge as well as U.S. aircraft monitoring their every move.

The Maersk Alabama's second-in-command has stated also that Capt. Phillips had offered himself as a hostage in order to gain the release of his ship. In reality, though reports are confused, it appears the crew took back the ship.

Speaking at a news conference Thursday morning, Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers said the U.S. Navy "is in command of the situation."

"We are in regular contact with the Alabama. The ship remains at a safe distance as instructed by the Navy. We are coordinating with the Navy and all the governmental organizations involved in this crisis."

This crisis is not over and we will continue to update.