Pirates Attack U.S. Ship Maersk Alabama
Maritime Attorneys (Houston, Dallas, & Austin)
In April 2009, pirates attacked and boarded the Maersk Alabama and took captain Richard Phillips hostage, putting him and his crew through a traumatizing ordeal. The crew was held hostage in sweltering heat and the captain was held at gunpoint for five days in a small lifeboat. The U.S. Navy SEALs came to the rescue, killing three of the pirates in the process.
"The number of pirate attacks worldwide this year rose to 306 between January and September, surpassing the 293 incidents recorded throughout 2008."
-International Maritime Bureau’s piracy reporting center in Kuala Lumpur.
Terry Bryant represents one of the crew members held hostage when the Maersk Alabama was taken in April. Mr. Bryant and his team of Texas maritime injury attorneys believe shipping companies must provide safe working conditions for their employees and have fought vigorously on their behalf.
Second Attack in Seven Months
The second attack occurred at 6:30am local time November 18, 2009, some 350 miles off the coast of Somalia when four pirates attacked the Maersk Alabama with automatic weapons. The ship’s security team—a private security force hired to protect the vessel and its crew—were armed with small arms and a LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device capable of delivering a painful warning tone several hundred yards). They were able to fight off the pirates who then fled the scene in their boat.
Terry Bryant Can Help
The rise in these attacks is troubling for any family with a worker on the high seas, but Terry Bryant and his team of Texas injury attorneys have handled these types of cases and helped bring international awareness to the issue of maritime safety. Contact us today by filling out a free online consultation form and learn what we can do for you.
Free Initial Consultation
When you’ve been seriously injured in a car accident, you need Terry Bryant. He is a board-certified Texas auto accident lawyer who knows how to win. He serves all communities throughout Texas, including Abilene, Amarillo, Austin, Beaumont, Brownsville, Bryan/College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Ft. Worth, Harlingen, Houston, Laredo, Longview, Lubbock, McAllen, Odessa/Midland, Port Arthur, San Angelo, San Antonio, Texarkana, Tyler, Waco, and Wichita Falls. Dial (800) 444-5000 or fill out a free online consultation form and speak with a lawyer today.
