Maersk Capt. Richard Phillips, Pirates | 05/01/2009 12:00 am

Ship Captain Nabbed By Pirates: Give Us Security, Not 'Mall Cops'

Capt. Richard Phillips says U.S. has a ‘responsibility’ to provide security for ships that fly the American flag.

By The Staff at wowOwow.com

The ship captain famous for his ordeal with a bunch of Somali pirates aboard the Maersk last month has a recommendation for how to prevent more attacks: arming crews with big guns.

Capt. Richard Phillips, skipper of the Maersk Alabama, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Thursday that American ships needed armed crew officers, or even military protection, to ward off pirates. In fact, arming at least a portion of the crew might not be a bad idea either, he said, although Maersk shipping-line chairman John Clancy didn’t think that was the best plan. Phillips was held captive by pirates after he negotiated a deal to have the rest of his crew freed. U.S. commandoes shot and killed three gunman on April 12, rescuing Phillips from a lifeboat in the Indian Ocean.

"I don’t mean a security guard. I don’t mean a mall cop. I mean someone who’s sufficiently trained," Phillips said.

As for arming crew members, that would be a tricky, although possibly necessary scenario, he said. "We must be very cautious about how it is done," Phillips continued. "Nevertheless, I do believe that arming the crew, as part of an overall strategy, could provide an effective deterrent under certain circumstances."

It’s clear his idea resounded with at least some of his audience.

"The idea that there wouldn’t be protection on board … just doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense," said former Navy secretary, Sen. Jim Webb, D-VA.

What do you think? Should American shipping lines provide armed security for its ships? Or should we arm the crew members?

Read more about: Capt. Richard Phillips, Guns, Maersk, News, Pirates, Security, senate, Somalia, U.S.

28 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I am not a gun fan to start with if we have guns on board these vessels it will be like High Noon on the high seas! Still, these folks do have to have some kind of protection seeing as the pirates don’t come holding water pistols so I suppose that may have to be the answer.

By caj p on 05/01/2009 7:43 am

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For someone who does believe in guns and gun control, I think that having armed professionals on board these vessels would be a great idea and to keep our Americans safe. I mean from what I have seen these "pirates" come up in blow up rafts, why not shoot a hole in the raft and be done with it, let them sink in those shark infested waters…if they come with a boat with a small engine, shoot the engine. You dont have to necessary get into a gun battle with them, it doesnt always happen that way as it shows in the movies.

Believe it or not there are simple ways you can deter the Pirates using guns without there being a gun battle. Wonder how long it will take this Capt to file suit against his company or better the US Govt for taking so long to come rescue him?

By C Hardy on 05/01/2009 7:58 am

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Do you think the Gov can just go in there all guns blazing without complete and clear info on the situation before hand? He wasn’t exactly held hostage for years was he? I sometimes think you don’t really think about your reply before you post it because you seem to be more than keen to just want to blame the Gov without really giving it any thought of how these secret missions may be carried out and the time scale they may need to get the job done safely!!

By caj p on 05/01/2009 8:48 am

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caj, I think before I post, no rude comments please. I do not blame everything on the Govt. There is a lot in this world no one has any control over. I never said the Govt should go in guns blazing but for him to be held hostage for all those days and he ever said he felt he would never be rescued, that is too long to keep an American at bay while we wait…Our Navy Seals are trained to think in a second or less, so Im sorry if I feel this stand off shouldnt have lasted 24 hours. We should have gone in and gotten our Capt out. Its funny how you think I am some gun blazing person, I respect weapons as I grew up around them and learned to use them and have them in my house today.

Try for one second, may be hard but try anyway, to put yourself in the shoes of this Capts wife and children, seeing their Dad out there with guns pointing at him. I would have been pissed that nothing was being done and that he had to sit there for all those days wondering when he was going to be rescued IF he was going to be rescued or was he forgotten by his Country.

Yes I think these ships need to have security, trained security. NO I dont think just any shipmate is capable of having weapons, you have to be trained and skilled. These companies dont want to pay the money it would take to have this done and its a shame. Its not all about gun blazing

By C Hardy on 05/01/2009 9:03 am

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I wasn’t being rude to you and I don’t think you are an "all guns blazing person" that was just a figure of speech! Of course his family were worried to death but precise timing was of the essence to achieve his release that’s what I meant about "all guns blazing"! Going in there within maybe a shorter period without full and complete knowledge of how to go about his rescue could maybe turned into a different outcome. Obviously something has to be done to secure these ships crews future safety and if it means having guns on board under control of experienced personnel that is maybe what they will have to do unless they come up with some other method.

By caj p on 05/01/2009 2:57 pm

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Caj, The Navy Seals are trained to deploy in a second and be on their toes and carry out a mission within minutes. Our American Captain could have been saved days before he was, that is what the Seals go through all that extensive training for…to be ready for any situation at any time. Just last night I was talking to a friend of mine who has a friend in the Navy seals and he said they were all ready to go and get our Captain back and thankfully the Military Man in charge at the scene took the iniative and gave the orders to get our Captain out of there b/c Obama was taking too long. Im sorry but I find that a bit scary.

By C Hardy on 05/03/2009 12:39 pm

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I’m sorry but I find that very hard to believe that ANY military person I don’t care how high up they are would dare take on a task as big as that without Obama’s say so!!!!! That would be seen as totally out of order by any military standards! I think your friend of a friend may have liked that to have been the case perhaps because it sounded better than what actually happened so I’m sorry but I take that story with a pinch of salt myself.

By caj p on 05/03/2009 5:02 pm

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Obama gave the order only if the Captain’s life appeared to be in imminent danger. So technically he did not give the order for the Seals to rescue our Captain unless his life was in danger. So if the Pirates had not have pointed that gun to his head, who knows how long the Captain would have stayed on that boat. You can google it but I’ll save you the trouble…

http://www.amnation.com/vfr/archives/012978.html

Caj, you can believe what you like, like always. If you feel that Obama was the master mind behind getting our US Captain rescued, believe it. Did he have a hand in it, yes, did it take him too long, for me yes it did. Again our Navy Seals area ready to go in a second and they don’t need days to prepare, they are trained to get in and get out without even being detected.

By C Hardy on 05/04/2009 6:33 am

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Captain Phillips is absolutely right. If we can provide air security the US ought to be able to provide sea security. Take some of those special trained forces positioning them on the freighters that have no choice but to sail through the pirate infested area. As for arming the crew that would depend on how mentally and emotionally stable they are.

The Somali pirates aren’t going to go away. The freighter crews need to be trained to handle an attack. Arming a few key crew members that are proven to be mentally and emotionally stable would make the ships less of a target.

By Chris Glass` on 05/01/2009 8:10 am

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Is there anyone in the US Senate, House or Obama administration who would travel anywhere without some type of security? THEY always go with armed guards, sometimes with a military escort to any official gathering. Instinctively they know that the world is not always a safe place. Yes, there is evil in the world and sometimes you have to protect yourself from it. Training the crew in basic firearms would be a good idea; it would not tie up any military personnel.

By crux ** on 05/01/2009 8:34 am

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Crux, it wouldnt tie up our Military, we have plenty of retired police and military that would love to have this job, keeping US Citizens safe again. I know if it was good money my hubby would jump at this chance but I wouldnt like it b/c he would be away from home too long. Im selfish and like having him around :)

By C Hardy on 05/01/2009 9:05 am

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Recently a ship ( Italian???) was almost highjacked by pirates. But as they were scampering aboard , they were met with gunfire from retired Israeli commandos who had been hired just for that reason. The sailors also turned on the water hoses, and the pirates fled.

It seems the pirates always fire above the bow of the ship, forcing sailors to take cover and trying to secure the ship. That is their job. C. Hardy is right. There are retired military with much experience in weaponry. Leave it to them, not the sailors aboard .

By Maggie W on 05/01/2009 9:38 am

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Maggie, its its done right it can be effective without guns glazing and shooting up the high seas. Some people are just so against guns that they can’t see what could or would be best for other Americans.

By C Hardy on 05/01/2009 9:55 am