Well that would be the blunder of the century. Right now they have him held up in the middle of the water, on a small craft, surrounded by men with assault rifles. Marines couldn't board that boat without being shot at all the way in, and the hostage most likely being killed.

The larger the boat the more manpower and firepower needed to keep it secure and the higher the probability of the hostage surviving a rescue attempt. Maybe this is the reason the USN is allowing the other pirate vessels to approach the hostage ship. Gambling that the pirates are stupid enough to load the hostage onto a larger boat.