On April 8, 2009 the container ship Maersk Alabama was captured by Somali pirates about 240 nautical miles southeast of Ely, Somalia, after a fight on board the pirates were forced off the ship, but they took the captain, at his request to spare the lives of his crew, as a hostage in the hopes of recovering a ransom for his life.

Several pirates and captain Richard Phillips drifted in the lifeboat that had no power and was surrounded by United States Naval forces. While many in the press wonder aloud why the Navy did not do anything, why they did not send a SEAL team in to cope with the problem, the Navy was doing exactly that. The talking heads moaned and groaned at the U. S. military, which is nothing new for them, but the Navy does things the Navy way and a SEAL team needs to access the situation and plan for the operation.

Yesterday April 12, 2009 a Navy SEAL team rescued captain Phillips and killed three of the pirates bringing an end to the stand off, and the grumbling from the left wing press. MaritimeQuest congratulates the U. S. Navy and the SEAL team who risked their lives to save him. This proves that there are still heroes among us.