- Title: KENYA: Crew member of hijacked U.S. ship tells TV crew to "fuck off."
- Date: 12th April 2009
- Summary: MOMBASA, KENYA (APRIL 11, 2009) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SCENES) WIDE OF U.S. FREIGHTER MAERSK ALABAMA LYING AT BERTH AMERICAN SOLDIERS HOLDING GUNS ON THE SHIP (SOUNDBITE) (English) KENYA PORTS AUTHORITY CAPTAIN BERNARD ODEMBO SAYING: "Still they are feeling sad for having left the captain behind, so I also understand their situation and I did not want to probe too deeply into
- Embargoed: 27th April 2009 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Kenya
- Country: Kenya
- Topics: International Relations
- Reuters ID: LVABR1DTT45M164LLZA4MTRXPVE3
- Story Text: The U.S. container ship hijacked by Somali pirates arrives safely in port, but crew member launches verbal tirade at television cameras.
A U.S.-flagged container ship that was briefly seized by Somali pirates earlier this week arrived safely in the Kenyan port of Mombasa on Saturday (April 11) amid tight security.
The 17,000-tonne Maersk Alabama was attacked by gunmen far out in the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, but its 20 American crew fought off the hijackers and regained control of the freighter.
The captain of the huge vessel, Richard Phillips, was taken hostage and is still being held captive on a lifeboat by the gang of four pirates.
The Norfolk, Virginia-based owner of the ship, Maersk Line Ltd, said earlier on Saturday that for "security reasons" the media would not have access to the vessel and crew in Mombasa.
In a statement, it said FBI officers at the port would debrief the sailors on board before they disembarked.
Kenyan port authorities said the crew were healthy but upset that they had left their captain behind, One of the crew showed his anger at the waiting journalists,
"There is a man dying in a life boat out there so we can live, so get the fuck out of here, all of you." he shouted before throwing a mug at the television crews.
The world has been waiting to hear how the crew retook control of their vessel, which was carrying thousands of tonnes of food aid for Somalia, Uganda and Kenya.
There is also huge interest in how Phillips apparently volunteered to board the lifeboat with the pirates in return for his men's safety. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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