A Captain's Duty
Encyclopedia
A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea is a book by Captain
Richard Phillips, the captain of the MV Maersk Alabama
when it was hijacked in 2009
. It was written with Stephan Talty.
Published by Hyperion on April 6, 2010, it tells the story of Phillips' capture and hostage-taking by Somali pirates in April 2009. The book alternates between Phillips' five-day ordeal and the plight of his family in Vermont
, watching the drama unfold on cable news. ABC News
reported that the publication of his book coincided with a rise in concern about piracy
.
in the hands of pirates, who Phillips portrays as alternately conciliatory, vicious, and unfocused.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy assembled a large task force, and tensions steadily rose, as did Phillips’ fear for his life.
The book details Phillips' attempted escape and eventual rescue by U.S. Navy SEALs, and portrays Phillips' wife Andrea as loyal and strong-willed.
optioned the book and acquired the life rights to Phillips in spring 2009. In March 2011, it was announced that Tom Hanks
would star in a Columbia film based on the hijacking and Phillips' book, scripted by Billy Ray, and produced by the team behind The Social Network
.
Captain (nautical)
A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag...
Richard Phillips, the captain of the MV Maersk Alabama
MV Maersk Alabama
MV Maersk Alabama is a container ship owned by Maersk Line Limited and operated by Waterman Steamship Corporation....
when it was hijacked in 2009
Maersk Alabama hijacking
The Maersk Alabama hijacking was a series of events involving piracy that began with four Somali pirates seizing the cargo ship southeast of the Somali port city of Eyl. This event ended with the action of 12 April 2009. It was the first successful pirate seizure of a ship registered under the...
. It was written with Stephan Talty.
Published by Hyperion on April 6, 2010, it tells the story of Phillips' capture and hostage-taking by Somali pirates in April 2009. The book alternates between Phillips' five-day ordeal and the plight of his family in Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, watching the drama unfold on cable news. ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
reported that the publication of his book coincided with a rise in concern about piracy
Piracy
Piracy is an act of robbery or criminal violence at sea. The term can include acts committed on land, in the air, or in other major bodies of water or on a shore. It does not normally include crimes committed against persons traveling on the same vessel as the perpetrator...
.
Plot
A mariner of 30 years' experience when his ship was taken, Phillips utilized all security precautions to keep his crew safe and hidden, leaving him as the only possible hostage. This led to an ordeal of several days in a lifeboatLifeboat (shipboard)
A lifeboat is a small, rigid or inflatable watercraft carried for emergency evacuation in the event of a disaster aboard ship. In the military, a lifeboat may be referred to as a whaleboat, dinghy, or gig. The ship's tenders of cruise ships often double as lifeboats. Recreational sailors sometimes...
in the hands of pirates, who Phillips portrays as alternately conciliatory, vicious, and unfocused.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy assembled a large task force, and tensions steadily rose, as did Phillips’ fear for his life.
The book details Phillips' attempted escape and eventual rescue by U.S. Navy SEALs, and portrays Phillips' wife Andrea as loyal and strong-willed.
Film option
Columbia PicturesColumbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. is an American film production and distribution company. Columbia Pictures now forms part of the Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group, owned by Sony Pictures Entertainment, a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Sony. It is one of the leading film companies...
optioned the book and acquired the life rights to Phillips in spring 2009. In March 2011, it was announced that Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
would star in a Columbia film based on the hijacking and Phillips' book, scripted by Billy Ray, and produced by the team behind The Social Network
The Social Network
The Social Network is a 2010 American drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin. Adapted from Ben Mezrich's 2009 book The Accidental Billionaires, the film portrays the founding of social networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits...
.