| A Captain's Duty | |
|---|---|
| Author(s) | Richard Phillips with Stephan Talty |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Non-Fiction |
| Publisher | Hyperion Books |
| Publication date | 2010 |
| Media type | Hardcover |
| Pages | 304 |
| ISBN | 1401323804 |
| OCLC Number | 674694313 |
A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea is a book by Captain Richard Phillips, the captain of the MV Maersk Alabama when it was hijacked in 2009.[1][2][3][4] It was written with Stephan Talty.
Published by Hyperion on April 6, 2010, it tells the story of Phillips' capture and hostage-taking by Somali pirates in April 2009. The book alternates between Phillips' five-day ordeal and the plight of his family in Vermont, watching the drama unfold on cable news. ABC News reported that the publication of his book coincided with a rise in concern about piracy.[4]
A mariner of 30 years' experience when his ship was taken, Phillips utilized all security precautions to keep his crew safe and hidden, leaving him as the only possible hostage. This led to an ordeal of several days in a lifeboat in the hands of pirates, who Phillips portrays as alternately conciliatory, vicious, and unfocused.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy assembled a large task force, and tensions steadily rose, as did Phillips’ fear for his life. The book details Phillips' attempted escape and eventual rescue by U.S. Navy SEALs, and portrays Phillips' wife Andrea as loyal and strong-willed.
Columbia Pictures optioned the book and acquired the life rights to Phillips in spring 2009.[5] In March 2011, it was announced that Tom Hanks would star in a Columbia film based on the hijacking and Phillips' book, scripted by Billy Ray, and produced by the team behind The Social Network.[5]