[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 65 (Thursday, April 30, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4954-S4955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         MAERSK ALABAMA HEROES

  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, this month the Nation was gripped by the 
pirate attack on Maersk Alabama off the coast of Africa. Today, I rise 
to cheer Captain Richard Philips, for his bravery and valor, and the 
Navy SEALs, for securing the Captain's safe return.
  We also need to honor the Merchant Marines who did not give up their 
ship. Though unarmed, using their wits, grit and training, they saved 
their ship--an American flag-ship--and the much-needed food aid they 
were carrying to the desperately poor of Africa.
  The 20-man crew of the Maersk Alabama belonged to the American 
Merchant Marines. They were sailing a U.S.-flag vessel carrying 17,000 
metric tons of cargo to Mombasa, Kenya.
  I am so proud that many of them trained in Maryland at Calhoon MEBA 
Engineering School in St. Michael's or at the maritime training school 
in Piney Point. Here, they learned how to navigate at sea, operate and 
repair ships, and how to handle a pirate or terrorist attack. Here, 
they received the education to sail the sea with skill that allowed 
them to save their ship with courage.
  Thirteen of the 20 crew members aboard the Maersk Alabama trained in 
Maryland; 4 at Calhoon MEBA Engineering School and 9 at the Paul Hall 
Center for Maritime Training and Education.
  Richard Matthews of St. Michael's was an engineer aboard Maersk 
Alabama. He trained at Calhoon MEBA Engineering School, as did three 
others aboard the ship: Ken Quinn, the ship's second mate who called 
CNN from the ship; Michael Perry; and John Cronan.

[[Page S4955]]

John Cronan later told the ``Today'' show: ``We didn't have to retake 
the ship because we never surrendered it. We're American seamen. We're 
union members. We stuck together and did our jobs.''
  Twelve crew members aboard the Maersk Alabama are members of the 
Seafarers International Union, SIU. Many of them trained at SIU's 
maritime school, the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and 
Education, in Piney Point, MD. It is the largest training facility for 
deep sea merchant seafarers. It teaches skills for sailors and 
seafarers, such as how to maintain a boat engine and how to secure a 
ship from pirates. I salute the SIU members aboard the Maersk Alabama 
for their patriotism and pluck and for their refusal to surrender their 
ship.
  This incident reminds us of the importance of the Merchant Marines. 
Often unseen and unappreciated, they are vital to our economic security 
and our national security. They are our eyes and ears on the water. 
They are experts in marine safety, environmental protection and the new 
and latest technology. They keep our ports safe and our commerce 
flowing.
  They are the Ready Reserve. They are there in war, transporting vital 
military aid and supplies to our troops. They are there in peace, 
supplying aid to those most in need--just as the Maersk Alabama was 
doing when the pirates attacked. They are prepared to risk their lives 
defending their flag.
  Let's salute the Merchant Marine, not just for what they did aboard 
the Maersk Alabama, but for what they do, what they stand for, their 
proud tradition. The Merchant Marine tradition is one of saving America 
time and time again. They have been the Nation's fourth arm of defense 
since the American Revolution.
  President Roosevelt called our Merchant Marines ``heroes in 
dungarees'' because during World War II these gallant men braved the 
waters of the North Atlantic and the dangers of the Murmansk run to 
keep our troops overseas fed and clothed. They have fought on the front 
lines of every war since then--from Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf 
to the Iraq War. They were there on 9/11, ferrying thousands of people 
to safety in New York. They were there in the aftermath of Hurricanes 
Katrina and Rita. And they have been there providing food to starving 
children in Ethiopia, Somalia and dozens of other regions around the 
world.
  The maritime community has been a major player in my personal and 
political history, from growing up in east Baltimore to my early days 
in Congress on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee. I got my 
start in politics by representing blue collar workers in Baltimore, the 
shipyard workers and the dock workers.
  I am relieved by the safe return of the Maersk Alabama's crew and 
captain and I am grateful for all of those involved in their safe 
rescue and return: the Navy and their elite Navy SEALs squad and 
President Obama and his administration for handling the hostage 
situation with great skill.
  As we welcome them home, let us acknowledge not just their heroism 
off the horn of Africa, but the everyday heroics of our Merchant 
Marines; their skills and training, their patriotism and proud 
tradition, and the role they play every day, in every way, supporting 
our troops, guarding our ports, keeping our economy strong and 
safeguarding our interests overseas.

                          ____________________