A person aboard the vessel hijacked by pirates is telling The Associated Press that the ship's captain is still being held hostage. The person, who had an American accent, says negotiations are under way for release.

The AP called the ship's satellite phone. The man who answered it said the 20-member crew had been taken hostage but managed to seize one pirate and then successfully negotiate their own release.

He says the crew has retaken control of the ship and the pirates are now in a lifeboat. But the man also says that they are holding the ship's captain hostage.

The man did not identify himself in the brief phone conversation. The company that owns the boat says the entire 20-member crew are Americans.

Government officials said details were murky and declined to confirm the report.