Infrared aerial surveillance of Maersk Alabama on 9 April
Date
8–12 April 2009; 15 years ago (2009-04-12)
Location
240 nmi (440 km; 280 mi) off Somalia
Result
All hostages rescued 3 pirates killed, 1 pirate captured
Belligerents
MV Maersk Alabama Supported by: United States Navy
Somali pirates
Commanders and leaders
United States Navy
Richard Phillips
Abduwali Muse
Strength
23 crew
4 hijackers
Casualties and losses
None
3 killed; 1 captured
v
t
e
Somalia: Piracy and Counter-Terrorism, 2006-2017
2006
18 March
2007
Ras Kamboni
3 June
Bargal
28 October
Dai Hong Dan
2008
Dobley
Thalathine
Dhusamareb
11 November
Maersk Alabama
Ocean Shield
2009
Baraawe
2011
MV Sinar Kudus
2012
Buchanan and Thisted
Bulo Marer
2013
Barawe
2017
Barii
v
t
e
Piracy off Somalia
2006
Action of 18 March
2007
Action of 3 June
MV Al Marjan
Action of 28 October
Dai Hong Dan
2008
Operation Atalanta
MY Le Ponant
MV Iran Deyanat
Carré d'As IV
Action of 11 November
FV Ekawat Nava 5
2009
Action of 3 March
April raid
MV Maersk Alabama
Action of 13 August
Operation Ocean Shield
Action of 7 September
2010
Action of 23 March
Action of 30 March
Action of 1 April
Action of 5 April
MV Moscow University
2011
Operation Dawn of Gulf of Aden
Operation Dawn 8
MV Beluga Nomination
Operation Island Watch
Minicoy Island
MV Sinar Kudus
SY Quest
Operation Umeed-e-Nuh
2012
Patiño
The Maersk Alabamahijacking began on 8 April 2009, when four pirates in the Somali Basin seized the Danish/U.S. cargo ship Maersk Alabama at a distance of 240 nautical miles (440 km; 280 mi) southeast of Eyl, Somalia. The siege ended after a rescue effort by the United States Navy on 12 April.[1]
The incident was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the U.S. flag since the early 19th century. Many news reports cited the last pirate seizure as being during the Second Barbary War in 1815, although other incidents are believed to have occurred until at least 1822. It was the sixth vessel in a week to be attacked by pirates, who had previously extorted ransoms of tens of millions of dollars.
At the time of the hijacking, Maersk Alabama was owned by the Danish shipping company Maersk Line. The ship has since been acquired by Element Shipmanagement SA and has been renamed MV Tygra. As of 2023[update], the ship is still in active service.
The story of the incident was reported by Captain Richard Phillips, who had been master of the vessel at the time of the incident, in the 2010 book A Captain's Duty, which he co-wrote with Stephan Talty. The book was later adapted as the U.S. 2013 film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks.
^Sanders, E.; Barnes, J. (9 April 2009). "U.S. ship captain held by Somali pirates". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
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Global Information
United States Navy
Richard Phillips