On April 12th, 2009 in the Gulf of Aden, three simultaneous shots rang out and three Somali pirates dropped dead. Three Navy SEAL snipers, from the fantail of the USS Bainbridge, used their patience, expertise, and precision to rescue the Captain, Richard Phillips, from his lifeboat hell. This was the end to a dramatic ordeal of the battle for the MV Maersk Alabama.
The incident began when the Maersk Alabama was traveling near the Somali port city of Eyl and was quickly attacked by Somali pirates. Despite evasive maneuvers and taking a defensive posture by the crew, four armed pirates were able to board the ship and seize control of the bridge. Locked in the engine room, most of the crew of the Maersk Alabama waged their counter attack, disarming one of the pirates and sinking the pirates skiff.
Frustrated, and unable to seize control of the entire ship, the pirates escaped in a lifeboat taking Captain Phillips as a bargaining chip.
The movie, “Captain Phillips“, is directed by Paul Greengrass, who also directed The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum and United 93. Movie is set to be released in October of 2013.
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