The Conscience Foundation applauds Maersk Alabama Captain Richard Phillips for his heroic actions in placing himself at risk to keep his crew from harm. His values and his courageous actions in the face of Somali pirates are a model for us all.
The "Maersk Alabama" was heading to the Kenyan port of Mombasa with a cargo of food aid for Somalia and Uganda, when, on April 6, 2009, Somali pirates started stalking her. They made their move on Wednesday, April 8, in the darkest night, with two pirate boats coming up from the stern.
As soon as the pirates arrived at the bridge, Captain Richard Phillips astutely passed control of the vessel to an engineer in another part of the ship. The pirates never had control of the ship.
The frustrated pirates never did gain control of the ship. Apparently, in order to save his crew from harm, Captain Phillips agreed to give himself up as hostage and accompanied them as they abandoned ship. He is understood to have been the first U.S. citizen taken by pirates since 1804.
At one point, the daring Captain managed to jump into the water from the lifeboat where he was held captive and attempted to swim to the safety of the Navy vessel. The pirates apparently fired at him and he was returned to custody.
Attacks in the Somalia area increased nearly 200 percent last year, with hundreds of sailors held hostage and millions of dollars paid in ransom. Insurance costs have risen and many companies are now trying to avoid the most dangerous waters by sailing around South Africa instead of through the Suez Canal.
Pirates have been raking in big bucks, so they have a general feeling that piracy is a lucrative business.
Not this time.
President Barack Obama twice authorized the military to rescue Captain Philips. The Defense Department twice asked the President for permission to use military force. Obama first gave permission around 8 p.m. Friday, and upgraded it at 9:20 a.m. Saturday. Officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations said the second order was to encompass more military personnel and equipment that arrived in the Indian Ocean to engage the pirates.
The U.S. President authorized the use of force.
Frank X. Castellano III, commander of the Navy destroyer USS Bainbridge, waited with patience during a dramatic 5 day stand-off, which ended on Sunday, April 12. As tensions mounted, the pirates showed themselves on the lifeboat. One was seen holding an AK-47 assault rifle to Phillips' back. From where he watched, Castellano said, “The decision had to be made because Captain Phillips' life was in danger.” In high seas, under darkness, at 75 to 80 feet away, Navy Seals shot three times. They picked off three of the pirates when they stuck their heads up in the wave-tossed 18-foot lifeboat in which they were holding the heroic captain bound and at gunpoint. One of the four buccaneers, a 16-year-old, gave himself up before the shooting started and may face the first U.S. piracy trial in two centuries.
The Captain told his boss, John Reinhart, owner of the Maersk Line shipping company, that he wasn’t comfortable with the hero label.
“‘The heroes are the Navy, the Seals, and those that have brought me home.’ That was his quote,” Reinhart said.
President Obama praised the Navy rescuers and the captain’s selfless concern for his crew. “His courage is a model for all Americans.”
Among those who have commented on the rescue is Andy Hain, Carmel, CA
“It's great the U.S.A. resolved its own problem, the first time caught up in that piracy soap opera, but why has the rest of the world allowed this lawless behavior to flourish, much less go unpunished?”