Capt. Phillips calls for arming ship officers

WASHINGTON -- The hero sea captain held hostage by Somali pirates last month told Congress on Thursday that senior officers on commercial vessels in bandit-infested waters should arm themselves to protect their crews and cargo.

"One solution is not going to solve this problem," Capt. Richard Phillips told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "Nevertheless, I do believe that arming the crew, as part of an overall strategy, could provide an effective deterrent under certain circumstances."

Phillips, 53, was held for five days in a lifeboat off the coast of Somalia after he gave himself up to pirates who boarded his ship, the Maersk Alabama, on April 8. The ship and its crew, led by second-in-command Shane Murphy, who attended the hearing, escaped. Phillips was rescued after five days when Navy snipers aboard the USS Bainbridge killed his three captors and took another pirate prisoner.

The captain testified at a Congressional hearing to find ways to combat a wave of piracy that has plagued the waters off the Horn of Africa. About 300 non-U.S. crewmembers on 18 hijacked ships are being held hostage by Somalis whose poor, lawless country offers motive and safe haven to take vessels for ransom.

Phillips did not discuss the Alabama incident because the fourth accused pirate is awaiting trial in New York. But he said he favored training and arming the four most senior officers on a vessel or bringing on former special forces members. He said no more than three highly trained military veterans would be needed.

Senators agreed with Phillips that private security or senior crewmembers need to be armed to thwart attackers.

"We have an inherent right to self-defense in international waters," said Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va.

Lawmakers basked in the captain's reflected glory.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., called Phillips "an inspiration" and said it was "great to be in someone's presence who is so esteemed."

Committee chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., said he was "thrilled" to meet Phillips, who traded in his blue work shirt and ball cap for a gray suit, baby blue button-down shirt and blue tie for the occasion. But when Kerry mentioned the reaction of average people when they heard that "an American ship got taken," Phillips jumped in.