Washington - A second US Navy ship arrived Friday on the scene of a tense hostage stand-off near the coast of Somalia, where the captain of a US-operated ship was still being held by a group of four pirates, US defence officials confirmed. The USS Halyburton, a frigate, joined the USS Bainbridge, a destroyer that had arrived Thursday morning and taken up negotiations with the pirates, according to Commander Peter Schneider, a spokesman for the US Defence Department.

Richard Phillips, captain of the Maersk Alabama, was taken hostage Wednesday after a failed attempt by Somali pirates to capture the cargo vessel.

Phillips reportedly attempted to escape from his captors early Friday morning, leaping from the lifeboat in a daring attempt to swim to the Bainbridge. He was recaptured and apparently unharmed.

Schneider said the Navy had not been in contact with the captain since the incident.

The Maersk Alabama, a cargo ship carrying food aid, was seized by pirates Wednesday but the unarmed crew quickly retook the ship. However, Phillips ended up being held on the Alabama's lifeboat by the pirates.(dpa)