Maersk Alabama Captain writes book

Captain Richard Phillips, the Master aboard the Maersk Alabama during the hostage drama that played out on the high seas off Somalia in 2009 has written a book on the ordeal.

The 286-page hardcover, titled “A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS and Dangerous Days at Sea,” hits bookstores Tuesday.

Capt. Phillips says he learned something from the experience – “Don’t make deals with pirates.”

Here is the description from the publisher:

It was just another day on the job for Phillips, captain of the “Maersk Alabama.” That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. “A Captain’s Duty” tells the dramatic life-and-death tale of Phillips’ captivity and his daring escape.

Captain Richard Phillips knew the pirates were dangerous. And yet, it was originally just another day on the job for the fifty-three-year old captain of the Maersk Alabama, the United States-flagged cargo ship that was carrying food and other agricultural materials for the World Food Program. That all changed when armed Somali pirates boarded the ship. But they didn’t expect the sailors to fight back nor did they plan for Captain Phillips to end up as a hostage in the stead of his ship and crew, and ultimately, they didn’t bargain on the tough-as-nails everyman theytook on board their tiny craft. After the tense fie-day stand-off-including mock executions, deadly heat, and an escalating battle of wills-ended in a daring high-seas rescue, Captain Phillips said, “It never ends like this.” And he’s right. A Captain’s Story tells the dramatic life-and-death tale of the Vermont native who, in April of 2008, was held captive on a tiny lifeboat off Somalia’s anarchic, gun-plagued shores.

Captain Richard Phillips, Author of A CAPTAIN'S DUTY: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, and Dangerous Days at Sea (Hyperion; April 6, 2010; $25.99 hardcover)

Find the book on Amazon HERE.