The Maersk Alabama is a 17,400 ton container vessel that was hijacked by pirates on April 8, 2009, while on its way to Mombasa, Kenya with relief supplies.
On April 27, 2009, Richard Hicks, the chief steward on the freighter, filed a lawsuit against Waterman Steamship and Maersk Line, Limited, asking for at least $75,000 for pain and suffering. Hicks claims "the ship's owner did not take proper precautions against high seas attacks" and has filed suit to try to improve conditions for other sailors.Houston Chronicle: Crew Member on Pirated U.S. Freighter Sues Shipping Line (April 27, 2009)
Hijacking
The Maersk Alabama was hijacked by Somali pirates on April 8, 2009, though the crew was able to regain control of the ship later that the day. However, the ship's captain Richard Phillips was taken hostage by the pirates, who left in one the ship's life boats.WSJ.com: Navy Ships Keep Watch Over U.S. Hostage, Pirates (April 12, 2009) Phillips was rescued, uninjured, on April 12, 2009 when Navy snipers killed the pirates.CNN: American Captain Rescued (April 12, 2009)
Con Artists
In 2004, the Alva Maersk (Maersk Alabama) was involved in a scam by Indian nationals from Kuwait, who accused AP Moller-Maersk of losing merchandise from shipments, that never existed. The scheme cost the company millions of dollars. The perpetrators of the fraud had the Alva Maersk vessel placed under arrest in Kuwait and forced the company to post a $1.86 million guarantee to free the ship.Maersk A-Class
References
Fast Facts
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Hijacked in the Indian Ocean
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Ship based in Norfolk, Virginia
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Maersk's line is a subsidiary of Denmark's A.P. Moller/Maersk A.S.
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Vessel's previous name
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The Danish made vessel sails under the U.S.-flag bearing with a crew that includes 21 Americans.Aljazeera: Somali pirates seize Danish vessel (April 8, 2009)
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Built in 1998
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Length
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Dry weight
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Container capacity
1,399 twenty-foot equivalent unitsGlobalSecurity.org: Maersk A-Class
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Received a Maritime Security Program (MSP) operating agreement in 2004
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Became a U.S.flag bearing vessel for military and international shipping purposesGlobalSecurity.org: Maersk A-Class
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Waterman Steamship is based in Norfolk, Virginia and Maersk Line, Limited is based in Mobile, AlabamaHuffington Post: Maersk Alabama Sailor Sues Company Over Pirate Safety (April 27, 2009)
