Somali pirates and their hostage American sea captain were adrift in a lifeboat off the Horn of Africa, shadowed by a US destroyer with more warships on the way in a US show of force.

FBI hostage negotiators joined US navy efforts yesterday to free an American cargo ship captain held captive on a lifeboat by Somali pirates.

PENTAGON officials said yesterday that the American crew of a US-flagged cargo ship had retaken control from Somali pirates who hijacked the vessel far off the Horn of Africa.

The American crew of a hijacked US-flagged ship retook control of the vessel from Somali pirates today, but the captain was still being held hostage in a lifeboat, according three people on board.