Maersk Alabama Crew Member Files Lawsuit Against Employer for Failing to Protect Him from Pirates

[Turbineguy]

Source: PR Newswire

HOUSTON, April 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Royal Palm Beach, Florida resident Richard E. Hicks is filing a lawsuit today against his employer, Waterman Steamship Corporation and Maersk Line, Ltd. for knowingly sending him into pirate-infested waters near Somalia without adequate protection.

Hicks was taken hostage by Somali pirates April 8 while working as chief steward preparing food for crewmembers. When Hicks heard over the loudspeaker that pirates were on board, he and other crewmembers gathered in the engine/steering room for nearly 12 hours.

Read more: http://sev.prnewswire.com/transportation-trucking-railroad/20090427/AQ0542927042009-1.html

[cloudbase]

1. Thus confirming what everybody suspected

about the intelligence of most members of the steward's department.

[Demeter]

2. He's the Only Non-Navy Seal?

[cloudbase]

8. I doubt that any of them were SEALs.

If that's a requirement to sail as a merchant seaman, I'd better brush up my resume'.

[kestrel91316]

3. Memo to Mr. Hicks: IIRC, international treaties prohibit the arming of

commercial ships. What a whiner.

[Thothmes]

5. Please cite which treaties that we are party to

that specifically forbids arming of commercial vessels.

[kestrel91316]

7. Sorry, YOU can do the research. I will trust to what I have seen published.

Just don't ask me where I saw it. I read A LOT.

[Thothmes]

9. In other words, you heard somewhere that there were

treaties that prevented commercial vessels from carrying weapons.

[No Elephants]

11. The research that I just did online suggests that you are mistaken about this. I did find

something (not exactly authoritative, though) to the effect that many treaties would prevent summarily executing the pirates. Here: http://volokh.com/posts/1239732246.shtml

Perhaps that is what you were thinking of?

[dipsydoodle]

12. I've read that too

so have no cause to disbelieve you.

[No Elephants]

14. That's why posters ask for sources--to test reliability, both of the source and of the poster's

poster's version of what the source said.

[dipsydoodle]

15. Brief mention here

Petraeus Says to Consider Arming Ships

There are numerous legal bars against putting weapons on commercial ships but maritime attorneys in Washington are studying the national and international prohibitions. Maritime companies, too, say they are considering ways to add stronger protection since the attack this spring on the Maersk Alabama, a U.S.-flag vessel operating for Maersk Line Limited.

http://www.joc.com/node/410997

[downindixie]

4. Didn't I just read today about some country hiring

Israeli security forces on their ship and were attacked.The security forces drove them away with handgun fire.There is more to it than a whinner.He has a legitimate complaint,for the past 3 months they (the crew)has been asking for more security such as barbed wire around the ship and other logical and reasonable request.

[ecstatic]

6. Good for him. Maersk can afford better security

Though, he should consider suing for more than 75k, as I suspect he might be out of work for a while unless he gets his own business going.

[IndianaGreen]

10. An Italian cruise liner repelled Somali pirates a couple of days ago

They had an Israeli security team onboard. Don't frak with the Israelis!

[No Elephants]

13. So....this guy had no idea that pirates were operating in that area? And

what exactly were his damges?