Episode 369: Captain Phillips and the Maersk Alabama Hijacking

You may recognize him from the famous line in his biopic - “I’m the captain now,” but there was more to this merchant mariner’s story than what Hollywood depicted. Failed sabotage attempts. Savage beatings. And a lot of chocolate Pop-Tarts. This week’s episode is Captain Phillips and the Maersk Alabama Hijacking.

SOURCES

A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea By Richard Phillips: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/richard-phillips/a-captains-duty/9781401395117/

Captain Phillips, History vs Hollywood: https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/captain-phillips.php

The real Captain Phillips, NCAA: https://www.ncaa.org/news/2013/10/10/the-real-captain-phillips

The True Story Behind Captain Phillips & The Maersk Alabama Hijacking, Screen Rant: https://screenrant.com/captain-phillips-maersk-alabama-hijacking-true-story/

Somali pirates hijack Maersk Alabama ship, History.com: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/april-8/somali-pirates-hijack-maersk-alabama-ship

Pirate Expert Analyzes The Accuracy Of Tom Hanks' Biopic 10 Years Later, Screen Rant: https://screenrant.com/captain-phillips-movie-accuracy-tom-hanks-expert-response/

Crew on US ship say Somali pirates hold captain, The Gainesville Sun: https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/nation-world/2009/04/08/crew-on-us-ship-say-somali-pirates-hold-captain/31605158007/

Maersk Alabama hijacking, Brittanica: https://www.britannica.com/event/Maersk-Alabama-hijacking

Crew of US ship rescued from Somali pirates sues owners for $50m, The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/may/26/crew-ship-rescued-somali-pirates-sues

Somali Pirate Asks Forgiveness, Sentenced To Nearly 34 Years In Prison, ABC News: https://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/somali-pirate-muse-sentenced-34-years/story?id=12930166

Captain offered self as hostage; local man who knows him not surprised, Sea Coast Online: https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/2009/04/10/captain-offered-self-as-hostage/52034649007/?utm_source=chatgpt.com

SEALs captain rescue in 2009 not so tidy, Daily Camera: https://www.dailycamera.com/2013/10/11/seals-captain-rescue-in-2009-not-so-tidy/

The Story of Maersk Alabama Container Vessel, Marine Insight:

https://www.marineinsight.com/marine-piracy-marine/the-story-of-maersk-alabama-container-vessel/

Maersk settles lawsuit brought by victims of Somali piracy, VB Attorneys: https://www.vbattorneys.com/case_results/maersk-settles-lawsuit-piracy

Captain Phillips and the Truth About What Happened, VB Attorneys: https://www.vbattorneys.com/blog/maersk-alabama-and-somali-pirates-suit

Did 'Captain Phillips' hide the truth about Maersk Alabama?, VB Attorneys: https://www.vbattorneys.com/blog/maersk-alabama-and-truth-about-phillips

Maersk Alabama suspect charged in two other piracy incidents, CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/12/maersk.alabama.charges/index.html

Pirate who 'wanted to kill Americans' gets 33 years for hijacking U.S. ship, NBC News:

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna41615693

Captain Phillips Interview, CNN: https://youtu.be/YYEM6NnUmeU