Awakenings

Awakenings

Captain in Somali pirate drama mulls career change

UNDERHILL, Vt. — He's got a book deal, and a movie could be in the works. He's been to the White House to meet the president, to the Queen Mary ocean liner for a vacation and back to his modest 1830s Vermont farmhouse. He gives motivational speeches on the lecture circuit.

Now, six months after his high-seas drama with Somali pirates finished with a happy ending, Capt. Richard Phillips is contemplating calling it quits with the sea.

"I have been doing it for 30 years. Maybe it's time to do something else," he said Monday, sitting for an interview in his living room.

Phillips, 54, was the captain of the Maersk Alabama, a U.S.-flagged cargo ship hijacked April 8 off the coast of Somalia.

But here's the point I want to emphasize:

One of the first things Phillips did once he got home was learn how to use an AK-47.

Capt. Phillips now understands that he is the person responsible for his protection.

Interesting that the AP printed that.