A CAPTAINS DUTY

So m ali Pirates, Navy S E A L s, and D a ng erous Days at Sea

RICHARD PHILLIPS
with Stephan Talty

Please credit as "A CAPTAINS DUTY: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dan ero!s Days at Sea" #y $ic%ard P%illi&s 'it% Ste&%an Talty( Co&yri %t )c* +,-, $ic%ard P%illi&s( P!#lis%ed #y .y&erion( Availa#le '%erever #oo/s are sold( All $i %ts $eserved(

O N E

10 Days

PIRACY FIGURES UP 20 PERCENT IN FIRST QUARTER OF 2009: A total of 36 vessels we e !oa "e" a#" o#e vessel $%&a'(e") Seve# ' ew *e*!e s we e ta(e# $osta+e, s%- (%"#a..e", t$ ee (%lle" a#" o#e *%ss%#+/. es0*e" "ea") I# t$e *a&o %t1 of %#'%"e#ts, t$e atta'(e s we e $eav%l1 a *e" w%t$ +0#s o (#%ves) T$e 0se a#" t$ eat of v%ole#'e a+a%#st ' ew *e*!e s e*a%#s 0#a''e.ta!l1 $%+$) vessels a#" t$e a!"0't%o# of ' ew fo a#so*) ICC International Maritime Bureau Piracy Report, First Quarter, 2009 2ate s a o0#" So*al%a 'o#t%#0e to !e #oto %o0s fo $%&a'(%#+ of

en days before, Id been enjoying my last meal stateside wit

my wife,

Andrea, in one of t e most bea!tif!l towns in "ermont# All yo! see from t e front door of my $on%erted farm o!se are rolling green ills, m!n$ ing

$ows, and more rolling ills# Under ill is t e &ind of "ermont town w ere yo!ng farmers 'ro'ose to t eir lo$al sweet earts by s'ray('ainting ra$ el, will yo! marry me) on bales of ay# Its a 'la$e w ere yo! $an wal& for t ree min!tes and be lost in a forest so dee' and t i$& and silent yo!d t in& yo!re going to tri' o%er Daniel *oone# +e a%e two general stores and one Cat oli$ $ !r$ , St# T omas, and t e o$$asional to!rist !' from ,an attan# Its as different from t e o$ean as t e ot er side of t e moon is, and I lo%e t at# Its li&e I get to li%e two $om'letely different li%es# As a mer$ ant mariner, I often wor& t ree mont s on and t ree mont s off# + en I

$ome

ome, I forget abo!t t e sea# Im -.. 'er$ent into being a dad and

!sband#

+ en o!r &ids, Dan and ,aria , were yo!ng, from t e moment t ey got !' to t e min!te t ey went to bed, Id ta&e $are of t em# Neig bors and friends wo!ld as& me to babysit, so Id a%e fi%e or si/ &ids in tow# Id ma&e dinner0 1ren$ toast by $andlelig t, my

s'e$ialty# Id do 2i$ s 3omewor& Cl!b# Id ta&e t e &ids on $lass tri's# + ate%er I do, wor& or ome life, I do wit e%eryt ing I a%e# + en I lea%e my family, its for a long time# Yo! need to do somet ing s'e$ial for t em before yo! s i' o!t, be$a!se it mig t be t e last time yo! see t em# + en e was growing !', my son, Dan, wo!ld goad me, 45 , I dont a%e a dad# 3es ne%er ome# 6!ess e doesnt lo%e me#7 +ed la!g abo!t it8Dan is e/a$tly li&e I was w en I was nineteen0 a smart ale$& w o will find yo!r wea&ness and ammer it ome !ntil yo! gi%e in and la!g # *!t w at e said abo!t my ne%er being t ere wo!ld $ome ba$& to a!nt me# *e$a!se t eres a &ernel of tr!t t ere# ,y da!g ter, ,aria , and Dan wo!ld see me e%ery day for t ree mont s and t en I wo!ld be gone to some far(fl!ng $orner of t e world# It didnt matter to t em t at t ere were ot er mer$ ant mariners w o stayed onboard e%en longer t an I did, t at I &new one g!y, a radio o'erator, w o was aboard one s i' for two years straig t# As a sailor, yo! a%e to '!t yo!r real life on yo!r &it$ en s elf and 'i$& !' yo!r

mer$ ant marine life# *e$a!se on t e job, yo! barely a%e a 'ersonal life# Yo!re on $all twenty(fo!r o!rs a day to do w ate%er t e s i' needs# Yo! eat and slee' and wor& and t ats 'retty m!$ it# Its li&e yo!%e died and gone to sea# T en yo! $ome ba$& and ta&e yo!r real life off t e s elf and start li%ing it again#

Yo! de%elo' rit!als to get t ro!g

t e transition from land to sea# Sailors

a%e a

' rase, 4$rossing t e bar,7 w i$ means lea%ing arbor for t e !n&nown on t e o$eans 9it also $an refer to t e deat of a sailor:, and yo! a%e to get yo!rself mentally 're'ared to go a$ross# Its a stressf!l time w en fears start $ree'ing into t e minds of yo!r lo%ed ones# It was 'robably t e dangers of my job t at were on Andreas mind t at $old ,ar$ 8'irates, rog!e wa%es, des'erate 'eo'le in t ird(world 'orts# All t e w ile, Id be t in&ing li&e a $a'tain, r!nning t ro!g a $ e$&list wit a t o!sand t ings on it0 + at re'airs do I need to see to) Are t e g!ys on my $rew de'endable) I !sed to start doing t is a mont before I left, w i$ wo!ld dri%e Andrea aro!nd t e bend# Now, after t irty years at sea, I wait !ntil I it t e de$& of my s i'# Andrea and I a%e a tradition w en Im getting ready to lea%e# 1irst, we arg!e# Abo!t not ing at all# In t e wee&s leading !' to my lea%ing, Andrea and I always a%e

arg!ments abo!t little t ings, abo!t t e $ar or t e weat er or er itting er ead on t e old s i's bell t at angs near t e $lot esline in o!r ba$&yard# S e m!st a%e sma$&ed it t ree or fo!r times w ile '!tting !' fres la!ndry to dry, and s e always $omes in and yells at me to ta&e it down# 9Its still !' t ere, too8sentimental %al!e#: *!t in t ose wee&s before a job, we get on ea$ ot ers ner%es, w i$ is not ing more t an er being an/io!s abo!t my lea%ing and me being an/io!s abo!t lea%ing er#

Andrea is an emergen$y room n!rse at a

os'ital in *!rlington and s es a fier$e,

o'inionated, lo%ing Italian girl from "ermont# I lo%e er to deat # +ed met in a *oston

di%e bar, t e Cas& n 1lagon, down near ;enmore S<!are, w en s e was in n!rsing s$ ool and Id been aro!nd t e world a few times already as a yo!ng sailor# I noti$ed t is $!te fri==y( aired br!nette girl sitting at t e bar, and I j!st ad to tal& to er# Andrea was tal&ing wit t e bartender, sin$e t eyd j!st dis$o%ered t ey ad m!t!al friends#

T en, as s e tells it, t is tall g!y wit a beard a''eared o!t of now ere and sat down ne/t to er# 4Yo! a%e a 'roblem,7 I said# Andrea t o!g t, +ell, es $!te eno!g # Ill 'lay along# 4+ ats t at)7 s e said# 4*eing t e best(loo&ing woman in e%ery room yo! wal& into#7 4T an&s,7 s e said# 4T ere are t ree women in ere# Not a !ge $om'liment#7 I la!g ed and st!$& o!t my and# 4Im 2i$ ,7 I said# 4As in >filt y#?7 T at was one of my better lines in t e early eig ties# Andrea $ra$&ed !'# T en s e let me b!y er a drin&# Years later, after we were married, Andrea told me t at s e t o!g t I was f!nny and easy to tal& to# @i&e most 'eo'les, er only &nowledge of t e mer$ ant marine $ame from 3!m' rey *ogart mo%ies# I g!ess t ats w y s e let me tell er so many stories# 4Yo! made it so!nd intrig!ing,7 s e said# After we met, I ad to s i' o!t and Andrea didnt ear from me again for mont s# S e mo%ed to a new a'artment after er first year at n!rsing s$ ool# T en one nig t at abo!t - a#m#, t ere was a ra' on er door# + en s e o'ened it, t ere I was, smiling li&e Id won t e lottery# S e was floored# S e fig!red I m!st a%e wal&ed all o%er *oston, trying

to find er new address# S e wasnt far off# Andrea was twenty(fi%e and %ery fo$!sed on s$ ool# N!rsing was going to be er life# I was on er radar, b!t only a bli' on t e edge of t e s$reen# I wo!ld s i' o!t and s e wo!ld get 'ost$ards and t en letters from t ese 'orts all o%er t e world# T en Id $ome ba$& to *oston and ta&e er o!t to dinner and t e mo%ies and 'i$& er and er friends !' at se%en a#m# t e ne/t morning and dri%e t em to t eir first $lasses# All t e w ile, Id a%e a new bat$ of stories to tell er abo!t storms off Ca'e 3atteras or ty' oons or good or $ra=y s i'mates# To me, it was j!st life on t e seas# *!t s e lo%ed getting t e 'ost$ards and t e s!dden re!nions# 4It was romanti$,7 Andrea says to t is day# 4It really was#7

T e nig t before I s i''ed o!t for t e Maersk Alabama, Andrea and I j!m'ed in o!r $ar and went to o!r fa%orite resta!rant, a 'la$e $alled A!ro, in t e nearby town of Asse/# Andrea ad t e s rim' s$am'i and I ad t e seafood medley and we dran& a bottle of red wine we bro!g t wit !s# Its $ ea'er t at way# Im t ree <!arters Iris and one <!arter a

Yan&ee, b!t t at one <!arter $ontrols t e money# I%e been &nown to be tig t wit dollar, and I dont mind saying so#

T e ne/t day, ,ar$ BC, Andrea dro''ed me at t e air'ort, li&e s e always did# T ere was not ing o!t of t e ordinary in t ose last o!rs toget er# 4A%eryt ing is going to be fine,7 I said# 4Im s!re yo!re going to get a bli==ard as soon as I lea%e, so j!st t in& of me lo!nging on de$& in t e ot s!n#7 I lo%e snow# T eres not ing I li&e more t an

loo&ing o!t my ba$& window at t e fields and trees $o%ered in w ite# S e la!g ed# 4See yo! in D!ne,7 s e said and ga%e me a &iss# S e !s!ally stays !ntil my flig t lea%esE t ats a tradition t at started w en ,aria and Dan were yo!ng# T ey wo!ld stand at t e

window wat$ ing my flig t ta&e off and wa%e at t eir daddy, j!st mil&ing t at last moment of toget erness for e%eryt ing it was wort # *!t t e &ids were in $ollege now and Andrea was on er way to wor& and s e $o!ldnt wait# It was t e first time t at e%er a''ened# I t o!g t abo!t t at later#

I lo%e t e sea and being a mer$ ant mariner, b!t yo! meet a lot of oddballs on s i's# I t in& a lot of it as to do wit lea%ing 'eo'le be ind for so long# It $an mess !' yo!r ead# ,arriages brea& !'# 6irlfriends find new g!ys# Sailors get 4Dear Do n7 e(mails in t e middle of t e nig t on some lonely stret$ of water miles from anyw ere#

Sometimes, a $rew member will disa''ear, j!st j!m' o%erboard in t e middle of t e o$ean, ne%er to be fo!nd# A lot of it as to do wit t e strain t at $omes from being away from lo%ed ones# ,er$ ant mariners always tal& abo!t Dodie# Dodies t e g!y w os at ome s$rewing yo!r wife w ile yo!re o!t on a s i'# 3es eating yo!r food, dri%ing yo!r $ar, $ !gging yo!r beer# Dodies going to be sitting on yo!r $o!$ w en yo! arri%e ome, as&ing, 4+ o are yo!)7 + en a g!y $alls is wife and s e doesnt answer, we tell im, 4S es o!t wit Dodie#7 As m!$ as we jo&e abo!t it, Dodie is all too real# 6!ys get ome and t eir

a'artment is $leaned o!t, t eir ban& balan$e reads =ero, and t eir fian$Fe is gone

wit o!t lea%ing a note# It a''ens to some sailors o%er and o%er again# A%ery time I eard abo!t Dodie it made me feel more t an&f!l t at I ad Andrea at ome# Dodie ne%er %isited my o!se# *!t Im not going to lie, some sailors j!st start o!t $ra=y8es'e$ially t e $oo&s# Im $on%in$ed t ere are %ery few normal, well(adj!sted $oo&s in t e entire U#S# ,er$ ant ,arine# Not one, e/$e't for my brot er(in(law, Da%e# *!t yo! do a%e yo!r s are of

e$$entri$s among t e rest of t e $rew, too# I%e ser%ed !nder an old(salt $a'tain named Port(and(Starboard Peterson w o in fog as t i$& as 'ea so!' wo!ld ref!se to !se radar because it oul! "ypnoti#e you into cras"in$ into anot"er s"ip# T e radar was e%il, yo! see# 5ne g!y wore alf a m!sta$ e for an entire t ree(mont tri'# Anot er demanded to be $alled

Polar *ear w en we sailed toward t e Nort Pole and Peng!in w en we went toward t e So!t Pole# T is g!y $olle$ted so many T(s irts from t e different 'orts t at yo! $o!ld barely '!s o'en t e door to is <!arters# I &new anot er seaman w o s owed !' at t e boat wearing a wolf(s&in $oat wit t ats for s!re# Its been t at way fore%er# T e mer$ ant marine is t e first of t e nations ser%i$es# +e were fo!nded in -GGH, before t e army and t e na%y# In all o!r wars, in$l!ding +orld +ar II, g!ys w o j!st $o!ldnt li%e wit t e na%ys reg!lations ended !' onboard $argo s i's# T ey didnt see t e 'oint of a%ing a $rease in t eir d!ngarees or sal!ting e%ery offi$er onboardE t ey j!st werent made t at way# Its no a$$ident t at many of t e *eat writers li&e Da$& ;ero!a$ and Allen 6insberg were former seamen# T e need to wander and t e need to rebel go and in and# +ere a b!n$ of misfits and renegades and t e ead still atta$ ed# Sailors are a breed a'art,

damn good seamen# + en Im ta&ing s i's from 'ort to 'ort, boo&s on t e istory of t e mer$ ant marine or +orld +ar II are always 'iled by my b!n&# +e were t e first to die in +orld +ar II8 se%enteen min!tes before t e atta$& on Pearl 3arbor, a Da'anese s!b strafed t e l!mber a!ler SS Cynt"ia %lson and san& it, o%er -,... miles nort of 3onol!l!# T irty(t ree sailors j!m'ed into lifeboats b!t were ne%er seen again, be$a!se all ell was brea&ing loose on na%y s i's a t o!sand miles away# And t e mer$ ant marine s!ffered more $as!alties t an any ot er ser%i$e in +orld +ar II# 5ne in e%ery twenty(si/ sailors died w ile doing is d!ty# Crewmen tor'edoed along t e Atlanti$ $oast drowned in engine oil w ile s!nbat ers wat$ ed from t e s ore# ,en in t e Nort Atlanti$ fro=e solid to t e floors of t eir lifeboats after t eir tan&ers went down# Anormo!s fi%e( !ndred(foot s i's $arrying amm!nition and dynamite to t e front lines were tor'edoed, blowing !' in e/'losions so %iolent t ey ne%er fo!nd a tra$e of t e tons of metal or t e !ndreds of men aboard# T ey j!st disa''eared into t in air# + i$ is fitting, really# T e mer$ ant marine as always been t e in%isible ser%i$e, t e g!ys w o bro!g t t e tan&s to

Normandy, t e b!llets to 5&inawa, b!t no one e%er remembers !s# + at 6eneral Do!glas ,a$Art !r said was tr!e0 4T ey bro!g t !s o!r lifeblood and 'aid for it wit t eir own#7 *!t w en t e boys from t e $argo s i's went ome, t ere were no ti$&er(ta'e

'arades, no 6#I# *ill, not ing li&e t at# T eyre still trying to get re$ognition so t ey $an li%e o!t t eir li%es wit dignity# T eres a bill before Congress t at will g!arantee t em standing as +orld +ar II %eterans and 'ay t em a small sti'end, b!t its ta&ing so long

to get t ro!g t e 'oliti$al 'ro$ess t at most of t e g!ys will be dead before its 'assed# T ats a s ame# + en I was $oming !' in t e ser%i$e, I met g!ys w od ser%ed in +orld +ar II and ad s i's s ot o!t from beneat t em# And I remember w at one g!y told me0 4I was in t e mer$ ant marine w en t e war bro&e o!t and I saw s i's going down left and rig t# I got so s$ared I joined t e na%y#7 3e was j!st 'laying t e odds# *eing a mer$ ant mariner was a good way to meet yo!r ma&er in t ose days# A lot of !s a%e a $ i' on o!r s o!lder# +ere 'atriots# +e a%e a 'ro!d tradition# +ere r!gged indi%id!alists wit a few mi/ed n!ts t rown in to &ee' it interesting# *!t we ne%er ma&e t e eadlines#

5n t at tri' to t e Maersk Alabama, I ad one of t ose istory boo&s 'a$&ed in my $arry(on l!ggage, b!t I sat on t e 'lane t in&ing abo!t w at I ad to do on$e I got aboard# ,y flig t left at I '#m# I was eaded to Salala , 5man, on t e east $oast of t e Arabian Penins!la, w ere t e s i' was loading !' its $argo olds# I%e flown as long as forty(two o!rs to get to a s i', and t is time t e jo!rney was not ing !n!s!al0 *!rlington to +as ington, D#C#, D#C# to J!ri$ , J!ri$ to ,!s$at, 5man, w ere I $ras ed at a otel for ten o!rs# T e ne/t morning, I eaded straig t ba$& to t e air'ort for t e flig t to Salala # I left "ermont on ,ar$ BC and arri%ed at my destination on t e t irtiet #

+ ere%er t eres wor& as a mer$ ant mariner, yo! go# Doining me on t e tri' was S ane, my $ ief mate and an able(bodied seaman, w o was also eaded to t e Maersk

Alabama# I rolled o!t of bed on ,ar$ I., my brain $lo!dy from jet lag, and j!m'ed in a $ar t at too& me to my s i'# T e Maersk Alabama was sitting at t e do$&side, its two $ranes swinging $ontainers onto t e de$&, w en I wal&ed !' t e gangway, boarded t e s i', and went !' to my offi$e to meet t e relie%ing $a'tain, w o debriefed me on w at was going on# T e $a'tain left and I d!m'ed my gear in my <!arters, w i$ were $onne$ted to an offi$e, one floor below t e bridge on t e starboard side# To get from my room to t e s i's bridge, all I wo!ld a%e to do is wal& down t e allway to t e $enter door# 5'ening it, Id be in t e $ imney, or $entral ladder way# 5ne flig t !' and Id be on t e bridge, t e $ommand $enter for t e w ole s i'# T e o!se was w at we $all t e se%en(story s!'erstr!$t!re at t e stern 9or rear: of t e s i'# A small $ondoli&e str!$t!re, it $ontained o!r li%ing <!arters, o!r mess all, and o!r os'ital# T e to' le%el was t e bridge, w ere large windows ran from t e $eiling to abo!t waist( ig and were met by a metal wains$oting t at dro''ed to a s'e$ial

antifatig!e r!bber floor# 9+at$ es are &e't on t e bridge, w ere a mate and an A*, or able(bodied seaman, are $onstantly s$anning t e ori=on, so yo! want t em to stay

alert#: It loo&ed li&e a green o!se in t ere, wit %iews for miles in e%ery dire$tion# In t e middle of t e bridge was t e $onning station8t ats w ere we steer t e s i' from8and a flat ele$troni$ $onsole filled wit na%igation aids# T ats w ere yo!d find t e radar# 2adar doesnt loo& li&e t e $at ode t!be set!' yo! see in 3!m' rey *ogart mo%ies# T ese days it loo&s more li&e a T", wit s i's still a''earing as a small bli', b!t now wit data streaming down t e rig t side of t e s$reen0 t e s'eed of any %essels, CPA

9$losest 'oint of a''roa$ , w i$ tells yo! t e 'oint at w i$ yo!re going to interse$t wit t at a''roa$ ing s i':, and time to CPA# 5n t e 'ort side stood a $ art table, w ere t e se$ond mate8t e offi$e man on a s i'8does is wor&# T ere was a 6,DSS, or 6lobal ,aritime Distress and Safety System, w i$ ga%e !s $ontin!o!s weat er

!'dates, a small ele$troni$ station, w i$ re'la$ed t e traditional radio o'erator, and a $om'!ter# Starboard t ere was an all(im'ortant 'ie$e of e<!i'ment0 t e $offee'ot, my first sto' e%ery morning# Port and starboard, doors led off to t e bridge wings, wal&ways eig teen feet long t at we !sed w ile mane!%ering or do$&ing# T ese wings allow yo! to see down t e sides of t e s i' and a%oid banging into t e 'iers or anot er %essel# Abo%e t e bridge was t e flying bridge, an o'en 'latform t at mar&ed one of t e t e ig est 'oints on t e s i'# Aa$ de$& below t e bridge was designated by a letter# ,y <!arters were o!sed on A de$&# T e $ ief engineers, too# T e engineers and mates rooms were on D de$&# C de$& eld <!arters for t e $rew, w ile * eld more s'a$e for t e A*s and t e %essel lo!nges# A de$& o!sed t e mess, w ere we ate o!r meals, and t e os'ital# 5n t e main de$& was t e s i's offi$e# Dro''ing below t e de$& into t e belly of t e s i', dire$tly below t e o!se, sat t e engine room# 1orward of t at were t e enormo!s $argo olds, wit tan&s olding ballast, f!el, and water !nderneat # *e ind, or aft, of t e

engine room, !nder t e main de$&, was t e after steering room# I s'ent t e ne/t few o!rs going o%er t e Maersk Alabama wit a $a'tains eye# T e first

t ing I noti$ed was t at t e s i' ad let t e se$!rity sli' a little# I $o!ld see doors o'en all o%er t e s i'# T e engine door, t e bridge door, t e $argo s$!ttle t at led into t e olds8t ey were all &ey 'oints of entry for any intr!ders and t ey were all standing wide o'en# A%en t o!g we were in 'ort, t ey s o!ld a%e been se$!red# T e 'irate $ages were !nlo$&ed, too# Pirate $ages are steel bars o%er t e s i's ladder ways t at $ome !' from t e main de$& to t e s!'erstr!$t!re on t e e/terior of t e s i'# After yo! $limb !' a ladder, yo!re s!''osed to lower t is s$reen of welded bars o%er t e ole yo!%e j!st $ome t ro!g and lo$& it# T ese s$reens are designed to &ee' any intr!ders from

as$ending t e s i' to t e bridge# Id $a'tained t e Maersk Alabama on$e before and I &new er 'retty well# S e was a

$ontainer s i', one of t e wor& orses t at $arry t e Toyota yo!re dri%ing, t e 'lasma T" yo!re wat$ ing, or t e 2eebo&s yo!re wearing# 9+it o!t t e mer$ ant marine, t ere is no +almart#: ,er$ ant mariners dont get to sail t e bea!tif!l s i's of t e world, t e ya$ ts and sloo's and t e r!mr!nners# +e dont get to stand at t e elm wit a gin and toni$ in o!r ands# +e wor& trawlers, barges, b!l& $arriers, tan&ers# T e Maersk Alabama was b!ilt in C ina ten years agoE it was H.C feet long and CI feet abeam and 'ainted bl!e on t e !ll and beige on t e s!'erstr!$t!re, li&e all t e s i's owned by ,aers&# Two K.(foot $ranes, ea$ si/ stories ig , were 'la$ed fore and aft, w i$ enabled !s to <!i$&ly load and !nload t e $ontainers t at sat on to' of t e de$& on any gi%en tri'# 3er to' s'eed was eig teen &nots, 'owered by a single diesel engine, and er $a'a$ity was -,.LB TAUs, or twenty(foot e<!i%alent !nits, w i$ meant s e $o!ld $arry a''ro/imately -,.LB of t e $ontainers yo! see sta$&ed at 'orts or being '!lled by tra$tor trailers a$ross

Ameri$a# T is s i' was li&e a t o!sand ot er %essels o!t t ere, b!t for t e ne/t t ree mont s it was going to be my ome, my job, and my res'onsibility#

+e were on t e AA1K r!n 9Aast Afri$a K:, w i$ went from Salala , 5man, to Djibo!ti in t e 2e'!bli$ of Djibo!ti and ,ombasa, ;enya, on t e Indian 5$ean# Sometimes wed in$l!de Dar es Salaam on t e tri', b!t t is time it was only t ree sto's# Id always fo!nd Aast Afri$a to be a good r!n, rela/ing e%en, $om'ared wit a!ling $ars from Yo&o ama

to t e United States on a nail(biting s$ ed!le# T e tri' 'romised s!nny weat er, interesting 'orts, a solid s i'# It was one of t e best r!ns Id e%er been on, and I felt l!$&y to a%e it# +e were $arrying se%enteen tons of $argo, in$l!ding fi%e tons of s!''lies for t e +orld 1ood Programme, w at we $all 4 ands a&e food70 grain, w eat, 'eas, t e essentials for s!r%i%al# 1rom t ose 'orts t e food wo!ld be tr!$&ed !ndreds of miles into $o!ntries li&e 2wanda, Congo, and Uganda, landlo$&ed 'la$es t at $ant get t e st!ff any ot er way# A%ery 'ie$e of mer$ andise8e%ery lig tb!lb, e%ery 'air of s oes, and e%ery gallon of gas8t at ends !' in t ose $o!ntries as to go t ro!g two 'orts, ,ombasa or Dar es Salaam# I later eard from one Cat oli$ relief o!tfit t at ad twenty( t ree $ontainers onboard t e Maersk Alabama destined for 2wanda# T ey told me it was t eir entire si/(mont s!''ly for t e ref!gees t ey $ared for and if it was delayed or ija$&ed, some of t ose des'erate men, women, and $ ildren wo!ld a%e star%ed to deat #

+ en yo! get on a s i', yo! want to it t e de$& r!nning, b!t yo! $ant# T ere are ten t o!sand t ings to get ready w en yo!re setting sail, starting wit t e basi$s0 + at time do we eat) Are t e $ranes wor&ing) Are t ere any 'i'es lea&ing) Is t e t ird mate sitting in is room saying 42edr!m7 o%er and o%er again) I%e always said t at all s i's are different b!t wor&ing on a s i' is always t e same# Yo! a%e to learn t e %essel first, and yo! a%e to grab someone w os getting ready to lea%e# A%en t o!g t eyre dying to get off t e s i' and fly ba$& to t eir family and &ids or t eir girlfriend and a t ree( mont s!''ly of beer, yo! a%e to find o!t w ats been a''ening or yo!re lost# I met my $rew# Id wor&ed wit my $ ief mate, S ane ,!r' y, before# 3e was yo!ng, ' ysi$al, and %ery ands(on# S ane was a straig t s ooter w o loo&ed li&e a *oy S$o!t and t o!g t li&e a $a'tain# +ed met in odd $ir$!mstan$es on o!r first tri' toget er# 3e was going t ro!g t e 5man air'ort eading to t e s i' w en t e $!stoms offi$ials

de$ided to 4tem'orarily $onfis$ate7 is CDs# It a''ens all t e time, and t e CDs often end !' in t e $!stoms offi$ials own $olle$tion# S ane blew !' and was arrested for 4ins!lting a '!bli$ offi$ial#7 After t ree days in a roasting ot jail $ell, wed been able to get im o!t and onto o!r s i'# 3e was a good s i'mate and I &new I $o!ld $o!nt on im in an emergen$y# ,i&e Perry was t e $ ief engineer, a born(again C ristian in is fifties w o loo&ed li&e a $o!ntry(and(western singer and ran a tig t engine room# Id wor&ed wit im nearly

t ree mont s before on t e same AA1K r!n# 3e was an e/(na%y g!y w o was ne%er afraid to arg!e wit me if e t o!g t e was rig t, w i$ is somet ing I%e always

res'e$ted, e%en en$o!raged, in a $ ief or any $rew member# T ings a''en so fast on a s i' t at yo! a%e to &now yo!r d!ty a!tomati$allyE w en a ty' oons t reatening to ri' yo!r s i' a'art, or a 'irate is $losing at twenty(fi%e &nots, yo! eit er 'erform or yo!re dead# So e and I were g!ng( o abo!t training# T ere was j!st one differen$e0 ,i&e belie%ed e%eryone $o!ld be trained to a ig le%el, w i$ is a na%y t ing# I belie%ed ad to wor&

some g!ys were j!st too far gone to absorb e%en t e basi$s, and yo!

aro!nd t at# Yo! $o!ld only train some g!ys so m!$ E 'erfe$tion was j!st not 'ossible# I was relie%ed t at ,i&e and S ane were sailing wit me# T ey were bot strong

leaders, 'roa$ti%e abo!t training t e $rew and getting jobs done rig t, <!alities t at are too often missing in sailors t ese days# I met t e rest of t e $rew# T e t ird mate, Colin +rig t, was a sto!t So!t ern g!y Id ne%er met before# T ere was also an A* w o was in is si/ties and really s o!ld a%e been tending is gardenias in a retirement $omm!nity# 3is best sailing days were be ind im# Yo! often ad to e/'lain t e most basi$ t ings to im, and sometimes e%en t en e wo!ldnt get it# And I met a new A* w o introd!$ed imself as AT,# I demanded e get is 'ass'ort and 'ro%e e wasnt messing wit me# S!re eno!g , t ere it was, 4AT, ,o ammed#7 3e was a Pa&istani w od won t e lottery for an Ameri$an %isa# AT, was yo!ng, brig t(eyed, and loo&ed $a'able# T e rest of t e g!ys I s oo& ands wit as t e day went on# 5nboard a s i' getting ready to lea%e 'ort, t eres no time for more t an t at# ,ost $a'tains will ma&e an initial assessment of t e $rew# T is seemed li&e a good $rew, wit t e e/$e'tion of one of t e senior sailors# T e $ommand str!$t!re on a mer$ ant marine s i' is a lot li&e t e militarys# T e

$a'tain is res'onsible for t e $rew, t e s i', and e%eryt ing on it# Period# *elow im are t ree di%isions0 t e de$& de'artment, r!n by t e $ ief mate 9sim'ly $alled t e mate on a s i':E t e engine de'artment, r!n by t e $ ief engineer 9&nown as t e $ ief onboard:E and t e steward de'artment, r!n by t e $ ief steward# T e mate is res'onsible for $argo, se$!rity, medi$al, maintenan$e, storing, loading, safety o'erations, and anyt ing s ort of a meteorite landing on t e forward de$&# Under im is t e se$ond mate 9$alled t e 'a'er mate:, w o is res'onsible for na%igation, maintaining $ arts, and seeing to t e bridges ele$troni$ e<!i'ment# 3es t e %oyage 'lanner, t e g!y w o lays t e $o!rses down, labels t em, and ma&es s!re t e lig t list 9w i$ gi%es !s all t e lig t o!ses along o!r ro!te: and t e Noti$e to ,ariners are !' to date# T e t ird mate is in t e entry(le%el slot# 3e ta&es $are of t e safety e<!i'ment and does anyt ing t e mate tells im to do# *eneat t e t ird is t e bos!n, t e leader of t e able(bodied seamen and t e foreman w o a$t!ally '!ts t e mates orders into effe$t# T e $ ief and is men 9first, se$ond, and t ird engineer: fo$!s on w at ma&es t e s i' go0 t e 'ower 'lant and a!/iliaries 9$om'ressors, '!m's, and motors:, as well as maintaining all t e e<!i'ment on t e s i'# ,ar& Twain said t at going to sea is li&e going to jail wit a $ an$e of drowning, and e was s'ot on# Yo! gi%e !' any idea of a normal, $omfortable life w en yo! ste' onboard# ,er$ ant mariners arent wee&end warriorsE we are t ere to wor& twenty(fo!r o!rs a day, se%en days a wee&# 5n t e water, e%ery day is li&e a ,onday8a wor&day wit more to $ome stret$ ing o!t into t e distan$e#

I a%e a to!g re'!tation in t e b!siness# Im &nown to be demanding, and I am# Aa$ sailor as t e li%es of is $rew in is ands, and I wo!ldnt allow t em to be t rown away be$a!se someone wasnt 're'ared# Andreas brot er, w os also a sailor, told er on$e0 45nboard 2i$ is a different 'erson from t e f!n(lo%ing g!y yo! &now# Yo! wo!ldnt e%en re$ogni=e im#7 I do li&e to a%e f!n w ene%er I $an, b!t not at t e $ost of negle$ting w at t e s i' needs# T ats not going to a''en on my %essel# ,y first order of b!siness was letting t e $rew &now in no !n$ertain terms t at we ad to get t e se$!rity 'rofile rig t# T e news o!t of Somalia was grim# A%eryone &new t at 'irates t ere were wrea&ing a%o$ on t e s i''ing lanes# T e !s!al ro!te aro!nd t e 3orn of Afri$a brings yo! wit in twenty miles of t e Somali $oast, b!t e%er sin$e B..H, w en t e 'irates started terrori=ing t e mer$ ant s i's t ere, $a'tains ad been going o!t fifty miles, t en one !ndred, t en two !ndred miles to get away from t ese

bandits# + at was a fi%e(day tri' now ta&es ten# S i's dont do!ble t eir sailing time !nless t ere are some %ery dangero!s 'eo'le waiting for t em# *!t no matter ow far offs ore s i's were going, t e 'irates were finding and ija$&ing t em# As soon as I settled aboard t e Maersk Alabama, I started getting e(mail b!lletins from t e 5ffi$e of Na%al Intelligen$e and %ario!s se$!rity firms abo!t 'irates0 mysterio!s bli's a''earing on radar and gi%ing $ ase, g!n battles, t e wor&s# S i's, fis ing boats, and ya$ ts were being ta&en left and rig t# A great deal of t e a$tion was ta&ing 'la$e aro!nd t e Somali $oast and in t e 6!lf of Aden, a dee'(water basin LB. miles long and I.. miles wide t at lies between Yemen and Somalia on t e 3orn of Afri$a# Somet ing li&e -. 'er$ent of all t e worlds 'etrole!m s!''ly is s i''ed %ia t e 6!lf of Aden, as

tan&ers bring oil o!t of t e 'orts of Sa!di Arabia, t ro!g t e 2ed Sea, into t e 6!lf, t en o!t to t e Arabian Sea and on to A!ro'e and Ameri$a# A trillion dollars wort of goods 'asses by t e Somali $oast e%ery year# Assentially, sailors are bringing t e worlds most %ital reso!r$e t ro!g t e worlds most !nstable region, w i$ ad t!rned

t e area aro!nd t e 6!lf of Aden and t e Somali $oast into a s ooting gallery# Anyone sailing t ere wo!ld be !nder $onstant t reat of atta$& from 'irates, w o were getting smarter and more %iolent by t e mont # T e total ransoms 'aid were soaring into t e tens of millions a year, attra$ting des'erate yo!ng men to t e g!lf li&e bees to oney# And t is was e/a$tly w ere we were eaded# 5!r ne/t destination was Djibo!ti, w i$ lies at t e far western end of t e 6!lf of Aden# +e ad to sail in, !nload, and get ba$& o!t before t e bad g!ys $o!ld get a bead on !s# I sent Andrea a <!i$& e(mail saying Id made it to t e s i' safely and we were getting ready to embar&# Im not one for ' one $alls# Too damn e/'ensi%e# *!t I let er &now I was aboard and t in&ing of er# Andrea misses t e days w en I wrote er long letters or 'ost$ards# Id always send er at least one long letter written o%er a wee&s time, telling er w at o$ean I was

$rossing, w at t e weat er was li&e, silly st!ff t e $rew was !' to# In t e beginning, I signed t e first 'ost$ards 42i$ #7 T ats w en wed de$ided we were 4in dee' li&e,7 not 4in lo%e#7 It too& a w ile to get more# Andrea still remembers t e time s e got one letter, before we were married, and at t e bottom, it said, 4@o%e, 2#7 S e was so str!$& by it# I g!ess t ats w en s e first t o!g t, 45 , maybe e is serio!s#7 Andrea as &e't e%ery letter I e%er wrote er#

I did $all a few times from aro!nd t e globe, and I always !sed t e same o'ening line# Andrea wo!ld be aslee' and s ed 'i$& !' t e ' one and Id say, in t is low, *arry + ite %oi$e, 4Is yo!r !sband ome)7 And s ed say, 4No, as a matter of fa$t, es not#7 46ood# Ill be rig t o%er#7 I dont &now w en t at started, b!t it be$ame o!r 'ri%ate jo&e# *!t it was t e letters s e really lo%ed, es'e$ially t e ones w ere Id get all romanti$# I wrote in one t at 4I miss t e inside of yo!r arms#7 3ow $o!ld s e resist t at) And in anot er, I said, 4Ill be seeing yo! in t e moon#7 I e/'lained to Andrea ow t e f!ll moon was always good l!$& for sailors, and w en I loo&ed at one, I t o!g t of er slee'ing !nder it t o!sands of miles away# So t e f!ll moon be$ame o!rs, a way to be in to!$ wit ea$ ot er# And w en o!r $ ildren were yo!ng, t ey wo!ld all loo& !' at t e $lear "ermont nig t s&y and t e &ids wo!ld s o!t, 4@oo&, its Daddys moon#7 And Andrea wo!ld say, 4T ats rig t#7 And ,aria and Dan wo!ld loo& !' at t e moon and say,

46ood nig t, Daddy, w ere%er yo! are#7 Andrea did anyt ing s e $o!ld to &ee' me $onne$ted to t e &ids daily li%es# Id always lo%ed &ids# 5ne of my jobs before joining t e mer$ ant marine was wor&ing wit s$ i=o' reni$ $ ildren and Id really enjoyed it# 4Dealing wit &ids is good

're'aration for dealing wit

$rews,7 I told Andrea# And it was tr!e# I e%en instit!ted

somet ing $alled t e Crying 2oom on my s i's, a little mediation $l!b for $rew members w o were a%ing 'roblems wit ea$ ot er# Id write and tell Andrea abo!t e%ery

session, ow one g!y wo!ld $ome into t e Crying 2oom and yell, 43e '!lled a &nife on

meM7 and t e ot er sailor wo!ld say, 45nly after e sw!ng at me wit a wren$ M7 Id listen 'atiently and nod and let t e g!ys get t eir fr!strations o!t# At t e end Id say, 4@ets s a&e ands and get ba$& to wor&#7 Not e%ery $a'tain does t at, b!t I felt it made for a better s i'# + en I left for t e sea, Andrea always 'osted a 'i$t!re of me on t e refrigerator, along wit a ' oto of 4Daddys s i'#7 Ne/t to it, t ere was always a list of <!estions for Daddy t at Id a%e to answer w en I got ome# *!t most of all, we ad t e f!ll moon to s are# Andrea $ eris ed it be$a!se it always bro!g t me $lose to er#