Somali pirates attack US-flagged Maersk Alabama for second time but the ship was not overtaken. Somali pirates opened fire on the Maersk Alabama with automatic weapons early on Wednesday morning.

Somali Pirates chose the wrong target - a French warship. The pirates, who because of the darkness thought the French ship was a commercial vessel. La Somme was operating about 290 miles off the Somali coast, on its way to resupply fuel to frigates patrolling shipping lanes as part of the European Union's Operation Atalanta anti-piracy mission.

As Vermont town celebrates Captain Richard Phillips' release after being held hostage by Somali pirates, additional ships are being attacked, other hostage situations continue and only time will tell the effectiveness of new anti-piracy initiatives recently announced by U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Captain Richard Phillips, who was rescued from Somalian pirates last week, has finally been reunited with his family.

The Liberty Sun owned by the Liberty Maritime Corporation of Lake Success, N.Y., was attacked by Somalian pirates roughly 300 miles off the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia. Apparently, when they said they wanted revenge for deaths of 3 other pirates during the rescue of Capt. Richard Phillips, they meant it.

Blustering after the weekend rescue of Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips by Navy SEALs, Somalian pirates since the rescue have seized four more ships.

Several days after the Maersk Alabama was first taken by pirates, and after an aborted escape attempt, the Navy finally rescued Capt. Richard Phillips from the pirates who were holding him hostage.

You might think that piracy is rare, but not so rare off Somalia. While the world focuses on the events surrounding the Maersk Alabama's captain, France meanwhile freed hostages held by other pirates on a French yacht, but not without a cost.

The Somalian pirates and U.S. Navy continue their standoff after Captain Richard Phillips tried to swim away before being taken back into the pirates' custody today.

The destroyer U.S.S. Bainbridge on Thursday reached the waters where the hijack drama between Somali pirates and the Maersk Alabama continues to unfold.