Posted:
May 5, 2009
By Tom Bethel
National President
American seafaring spirit prevailed during the taut five-day high-seas drama involving the U.S.-flagged container vessel Maersk Alabama, which was targeted April 8 by four armed pirates in the Indian Ocean some 300 miles off the coast of Somalia as the ship headed for Mombasa, Kenya, with a cargo of food aid.
Here is what we know from unofficial but reliable reports, including first-hand accounts from some of the ship's officers and crewmembers:
The ship's complement also upheld a tradition dating to the founding of the Republic. "American merchant mariners have served as the nation's 'fourth arm of defense' since the American Revolution," AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department and Seafarers International Union President Michael Sacco said upon the rescue of Captain Phillips. "The crew of the Maersk Alabama fully understood the rally cry of 'Don't give up the ship' -- the union members aboard the Maersk Alabama have shown the American merchant marine's resolve to deliver the goods anywhere, any time no matter the conditions. We are very proud of them."
By May 1, at least one Maersk Alabama crewmember had already shipped out again through the SIU, and Ken Quinn, second mate on the Maersk Alabama, had told a nationwide television audience that he would indeed return to work at sea in the U.S. merchant fleet, despite the personal risk and the possibility of sailing once again into harm's way. This, he said, is what the American merchant mariner does.
We saw this character and commitment under the U.S. flag a month before the Maersk Alabama was attacked. The earlier case was less dramatic but certainly no less significant than the Maersk Alabama incident in terms of how U.S. merchant mariners respond to crisis.
The setting this time was the South China Sea, and the vessels involved were the civilian-manned surveillance ships USNS Impeccable and USNS Victorious, which operate under Military Sealift Command charter.
Five Chinese vessels --including a Naval intelligence ship -- "shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in dangerously close proximity to USNS Impeccable" in an "apparent effort" to harass the ship "while it was conducting routine operations in international waters," the Defense Department said in a statement March 9. Personnel on two of the Chinese vessels waved their country's flag within 50 feet of the USNS Impeccable and told the U.S.-flagged vessel to leave the area.
"Because the vessels' intentions were not known, Impeccable sprayed its fire hoses at one of the vessels in order to protect itself," the Defense Department statement said. "The Chinese crewmembers disrobed to their underwear and continued closing to within 25 feet."
Other Chinese vessels pulled "directly ahead of USNS Impeccable," dumped debris in its path and attempted to snag the Impeccable's acoustic equipment in the water.
Despite the Chinese attempt at intimidation, and despite the wet Jockey shorts contest they had to endure, the officers and crew of the USNS Impeccable acted professionally and did their increasingly important work.
On March 4, a Chinese fisheries patrol vessel crossed the bow of the USNS Victorious at a range of approximately 1,400 yards -- in darkness and without warning -- and trained floodlights on the U.S.-flagged vessel.
The next day, a Chinese surveillance plane flew over the Victorious 12 times at an altitude of only 400 feet. Undeterred, the civilian officers and crewmembers aboard the Victorious remained at work in service to their country.
The International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association represent the officers aboard the Maersk Alabama. American Maritime Officers represents the officers aboard the USNS Impeccable and USNS Victorious. The Seafarers International Union represents the unlicensed personnel on all three vessels, which are operated -- coincidentally -- by Maersk Line Limited.
But these are the only distinctions among these courageous professionals. They and all of the men and women living and working at sea under the U.S. flag in domestic markets and abroad are -- above all else -- civilian American merchant mariners willing to do whatever it takes at whatever the risk to serve our nation in commercial trade, in support of U.S. Armed Forces worldwide and in humanitarian missions like that of the Maersk Alabama.
When it comes to the legitimate economic, national security and diplomatic interests of the United States, no one else will do.
American seafaring spirit prevails in maritime incidents
By Tom Bethel
National President
American seafaring spirit prevailed during the taut five-day high-seas drama involving the U.S.-flagged container vessel Maersk Alabama, which was targeted April 8 by four armed pirates in the Indian Ocean some 300 miles off the coast of Somalia as the ship headed for Mombasa, Kenya, with a cargo of food aid.
Here is what we know from unofficial but reliable reports, including first-hand accounts from some of the ship's officers and crewmembers:
- The ship's complement of 20 civilian U.S. merchant marine officers and crew -- armed only with their wits, their courage and their professional skills -- outsmarted the gunmen, thwarted the intended seizure of the Maersk Alabama and took one of the pirates into custody in the secured engine room.
- The ship's heroic skipper, Captain Richard Phillips, refused to leave the bridge and was held hostage by the three remaining pirates.
- The officers and crew below decks freed the fourth pirate in a good-faith effort to win the release of Captain Phillips.
- The pirates -- frustrated and panic-stricken -- fled the Maersk Alabama in a lifeboat, taking Captain Phillips with them at gunpoint.
- Captain Phillips attempted to swim away from the lifeboat, but he was fired upon and retrieved by his captors.
- When the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Bainbridge arrived on the scene, the Maersk Alabama proceeded to Mombasa to unload its cargo -- mission accomplished, despite danger and duress.
- The pirates and Captain Phillips drifted on the scene until April 12 (Easter Sunday), when elite U.S. Navy SEAL sharpshooters took down three thugs with rounds fired from the Bainbridge.
- The fourth pirate was at that point in custody on the Bainbridge, which he had boarded voluntarily. He is now held in New York City, awaiting criminal trial in federal court.
The ship's complement also upheld a tradition dating to the founding of the Republic. "American merchant mariners have served as the nation's 'fourth arm of defense' since the American Revolution," AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department and Seafarers International Union President Michael Sacco said upon the rescue of Captain Phillips. "The crew of the Maersk Alabama fully understood the rally cry of 'Don't give up the ship' -- the union members aboard the Maersk Alabama have shown the American merchant marine's resolve to deliver the goods anywhere, any time no matter the conditions. We are very proud of them."
By May 1, at least one Maersk Alabama crewmember had already shipped out again through the SIU, and Ken Quinn, second mate on the Maersk Alabama, had told a nationwide television audience that he would indeed return to work at sea in the U.S. merchant fleet, despite the personal risk and the possibility of sailing once again into harm's way. This, he said, is what the American merchant mariner does.
We saw this character and commitment under the U.S. flag a month before the Maersk Alabama was attacked. The earlier case was less dramatic but certainly no less significant than the Maersk Alabama incident in terms of how U.S. merchant mariners respond to crisis.
The setting this time was the South China Sea, and the vessels involved were the civilian-manned surveillance ships USNS Impeccable and USNS Victorious, which operate under Military Sealift Command charter.
Five Chinese vessels --including a Naval intelligence ship -- "shadowed and aggressively maneuvered in dangerously close proximity to USNS Impeccable" in an "apparent effort" to harass the ship "while it was conducting routine operations in international waters," the Defense Department said in a statement March 9. Personnel on two of the Chinese vessels waved their country's flag within 50 feet of the USNS Impeccable and told the U.S.-flagged vessel to leave the area.
"Because the vessels' intentions were not known, Impeccable sprayed its fire hoses at one of the vessels in order to protect itself," the Defense Department statement said. "The Chinese crewmembers disrobed to their underwear and continued closing to within 25 feet."
Other Chinese vessels pulled "directly ahead of USNS Impeccable," dumped debris in its path and attempted to snag the Impeccable's acoustic equipment in the water.
Despite the Chinese attempt at intimidation, and despite the wet Jockey shorts contest they had to endure, the officers and crew of the USNS Impeccable acted professionally and did their increasingly important work.
On March 4, a Chinese fisheries patrol vessel crossed the bow of the USNS Victorious at a range of approximately 1,400 yards -- in darkness and without warning -- and trained floodlights on the U.S.-flagged vessel.
The next day, a Chinese surveillance plane flew over the Victorious 12 times at an altitude of only 400 feet. Undeterred, the civilian officers and crewmembers aboard the Victorious remained at work in service to their country.
The International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots and the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association represent the officers aboard the Maersk Alabama. American Maritime Officers represents the officers aboard the USNS Impeccable and USNS Victorious. The Seafarers International Union represents the unlicensed personnel on all three vessels, which are operated -- coincidentally -- by Maersk Line Limited.
But these are the only distinctions among these courageous professionals. They and all of the men and women living and working at sea under the U.S. flag in domestic markets and abroad are -- above all else -- civilian American merchant mariners willing to do whatever it takes at whatever the risk to serve our nation in commercial trade, in support of U.S. Armed Forces worldwide and in humanitarian missions like that of the Maersk Alabama.
When it comes to the legitimate economic, national security and diplomatic interests of the United States, no one else will do.