A Defense Department official told ABC News that the monitoring includes at least one Navy warship and some helicopters that have been trailing the yacht as it makes its way from Yemen to Somalia.
A pirate who said he is in contact with the hijackers on the yacht Quest told The Associated Press that a warship and helicopters have been following the vessel.
U.S. officials confirmed Saturday that the vessel seized Friday by Somali pirates off the coast of Oman has four Americans on board.
Though U.S. officials did not release any information about the yacht today, a U.S. Embassy spokesman on Saturday said officials were assessing options and "possible responses" to the situation. "
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Merchant Vessel Defense Against Pirates
Preemptive Measures Can Prevent Boarding and Hostage Taking
Too often, ship operators fail to take proper anti-piracy security measures, effectively turning their merchant vessels into “Golden Geese” ripe for the taking, writes the author. He goes on to discuss proven methods of hardening commercial ships and training their crews to prevent pirates – whether from Somalia or elsewhere – from boarding vessels and taking crews hostage.
