-BASED ON A TRUE STORY-
PAUL GREENGRASS
Did this event really occur?
Yes, this historical event really did occur. The hijacking of container ship MV Maersk Alabama by Somalian pirates happened on on April 8, 2009. The container ship was attacked while it was on a trip around the horn of africa and had been on a voyage from Salalah, Oman to Mombasa, Kenya.
Did they really use fire hoses in an effort to repel the pirates?
Yes, on board the MV Maersk Alabama the crew used large fire hoses to repel the hijaking pirates. Captain Phillips also fired flares at the pirates and the ship was steered in a way that it swayed back and forth. Unfortunately, the pirates still managed to get aboard the ship after shooting out one of the hoses.
Did the real Richard Phillips write a note to his family while he was on the lifeboat?
No, this probaly did not happen since Captain Phillips doesn't mention anything about writing a note to his family like Tom Hank's character does in the movie. However, he does mention deeppraying for his family while he was on the lifeboat.
How long was Captain Richard Phillips held hostage on the lifeboat?
The movie makes it feel like Captain Phillips is held hostage on the Maersk Alabama's lifeboat for about a day and a half. But when researching the Captain Phillips true story it reveals that the real Richard Phillips was held on the lifeboat for almost five days. He was rescued on Sunday, April 12, 2009 after having been on the lifeboat since Wednesday.
Was the real Maersk Alabama container ship used for the Captain Phillips movie?
No, the real Maersk Alabama ship was not used for the making of the movie. But, the filmmakers used the Alexander Maersk, a container ship that is identical to the Maersk Alabama.
