U.S. warship near boat carrying pirates

(CNN) — A U.S. warship arrived before dawn Thursday near a 28-foot lifeboat holding four pirates and the kidnapped captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship, officials said.

Attackers hijacked the Maersk Alabama, shown here, formerly known as the Alva Maersk.

Also nearby was the Maersk Alabama — which had been seized early Wednesday off the Horn of Africa. All 20 of its remaining crew members were in good physical shape, said Ken Quinn, second officer of the ship, in a satellite call placed by CNN.

“There’s four Somali pirates, and they’ve got our captain,” Quinn said.

Maersk spokesman Kevin Speers said the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge was near the Maersk Alabama and that its crew was talking to the Navy.

“When the Navy comes in, they’re in charge,” Speers told CNN.