Maersk Alabama Hijacking
On 8 April 2009, pirates highjacked the cargo ship Maersk Alabama in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Somalia. Maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia has been a significant threat to international shipping, but the hijacking of the Maersk Alabama represented the first successful seizure of a U.S. registered ship since the early 19th century.
Despite attempts by the crew to deter the pirates by firing flares, and even swamping the pirate skiff by suddenly turning the ship’s rudder, four pirates were able to successfully board the ship and overtake the vessel. The ship’s Chief Engineer was able to shut down all the ships systems, and the pirates were unable to control the ship. Also during the hijacking, some of the crew were able to capture one of the pirates. They then attempted to negotiate with the pirates to exchange the captured pirate for the crew members taken hostage by the pirates, including the Captain, Richard Phillips. The pirates initially agreed to the exchange, and Captain Phillips led the pirates to a lifeboat to instruct them in how to operate it, but they ended up keeping Captain Phillips hostage as they fled in the lifeboat, abandoning their attempt to maintain control of the cargo ship.
On the day of the hijacking the United States Navy dispatched the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge and the guided-missile frigate USS Halyburton to the area in response to the situation. The Navy ships reached the Maersk Alabama the following day, on 9 April 2009. The crisis continued for three more days, with the pirates in the lifeboat holding Captain Phillips hostage. On 10 April 2009, the Navy sent a team of Navy SEALs to the be on-hand in the event they were needed. They parachuted into the water near the Halyburton, and later transferred to the Bainbridge. Hostage negotiations broke down, and on Sunday, 12 April 2009, the on-site commander, fearing that Captain Phillips life was in danger due to the pirates observed to be pointing AK-47 rifle at him, authorized military action to affect the rescue. Navy SEAL snipers, firing from the fantail of the USS Bainbridge, killed three of the pirates with head shots, with Captain Phillips being rescued uninjured. The fourth pirate had been aboard the Bainbridge as part of the negotiation attempt, and was maintained in custody. He was ultimately brought to the United States to stand trial, and ended up pleading guilty to hijacking, kidnapping and hostage-taking in lieu of piracy charges, and was sentenced to over 33 years in prison.
The item in my collection is a photograph which was autographed by Captain Phillips.
Despite attempts by the crew to deter the pirates by firing flares, and even swamping the pirate skiff by suddenly turning the ship’s rudder, four pirates were able to successfully board the ship and overtake the vessel. The ship’s Chief Engineer was able to shut down all the ships systems, and the pirates were unable to control the ship. Also during the hijacking, some of the crew were able to capture one of the pirates. They then attempted to negotiate with the pirates to exchange the captured pirate for the crew members taken hostage by the pirates, including the Captain, Richard Phillips. The pirates initially agreed to the exchange, and Captain Phillips led the pirates to a lifeboat to instruct them in how to operate it, but they ended up keeping Captain Phillips hostage as they fled in the lifeboat, abandoning their attempt to maintain control of the cargo ship.
On the day of the hijacking the United States Navy dispatched the guided-missile destroyer USS Bainbridge and the guided-missile frigate USS Halyburton to the area in response to the situation. The Navy ships reached the Maersk Alabama the following day, on 9 April 2009. The crisis continued for three more days, with the pirates in the lifeboat holding Captain Phillips hostage. On 10 April 2009, the Navy sent a team of Navy SEALs to the be on-hand in the event they were needed. They parachuted into the water near the Halyburton, and later transferred to the Bainbridge. Hostage negotiations broke down, and on Sunday, 12 April 2009, the on-site commander, fearing that Captain Phillips life was in danger due to the pirates observed to be pointing AK-47 rifle at him, authorized military action to affect the rescue. Navy SEAL snipers, firing from the fantail of the USS Bainbridge, killed three of the pirates with head shots, with Captain Phillips being rescued uninjured. The fourth pirate had been aboard the Bainbridge as part of the negotiation attempt, and was maintained in custody. He was ultimately brought to the United States to stand trial, and ended up pleading guilty to hijacking, kidnapping and hostage-taking in lieu of piracy charges, and was sentenced to over 33 years in prison.
The item in my collection is a photograph which was autographed by Captain Phillips.
