Maersk Alabama And The Missing $30,000

With the recent attention from the movie “Captain Phillips”, new details have emerged surrounding the events of his rescue by Navy SEALs.

The story began when four armed Somali pirates scurried up the side of a large cargo ship, Maersk Alabama, and took the crew and Phillips hostage.  In a failed attempt to get the pirates to leave, Phillips gave them $30,000 from the ship safe.  The pirates eventually abandoned the Maersk, jumping into a lifeboat and taking the cash and Phillips at gunpoint.

The USS Bainbridge, responded to the hijacking, gave chase as the pirates headed toward the Somali coast.  Days later, a team of SEALs parachuted into the Indian Ocean and boarded the Bainbridge.  SEALs took up positions on the back of the warship and trained their sights on the three pirates.  After taking their shots, a rescue team boarded the lifeboat, secured the area, and rescued the Captain.

The $30,000 was never recovered.

Read more on this story courtesy of The Navy Times.