Captain Philips of the Maersk Alabama Rescued by US Navy SEALs

Captain Richard Philips, Master of the US flag container ship Maersk Alabama has been rescued earlier today by US Navy special forces based aboard the guided missile destroyer USS Bainbridge.

The Maersk Alabama had been hijacked by pirates in the morning of the 8th April off the coast of Somalia whilst en-route to Mombasa, Kenya.

Captain Philips from Vermont, USA who heroically exchanged his own freedom for that of his fellow crew mates had been held hostage in one of the ship’s life boats. On Friday 10th April he bravely tried to escape from his four armed Somali guards by jumping into the sea but was unfortunately quickly recaptured. 

Today snipers from the US Navy SEALs based aboard the USS Bainbridge were able to kill three of the Somali pirates and capture the fourth enabling Captain Philips to be released.

Wavecrest Ltd strongly applauds the robust action taken by the US Government and would ask that others take the same stance.

Pirates have been able to operate practically with impunity around the Horn of Africa and this has lead to significant increases in the cost of shipping to ports in East Africa, the Arabian Gulf, Indian Sub-Continent, Far East and higher marine insurance premiums.

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