House Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee Meets Today at Mass. Maritime Academy

Panel To Hear Testimony From Academy Officials On Anti-Piracy Measures

WASHINGTON, DC: The House Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee will meet Thursday May 28, 2009 at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, MA to hear testimony on efforts to fight the spread of maritime piracy.

The recent wave of pirate hijackings has focused the world’s attention on the increased need to protect vessels from criminal activities on the sea. Drawing on rich local expertise, this forum will be the third of a series of hearings and briefings that will explore how vessels can best protect themselves at sea and what the United States and international forces can do to assist in this effort.

Congressman Bill Delahunt (D MA) will call upon maritime experts to educate the Subcommittee on shipping best practices and their recommendations to reform and improve maritime safety. Testifying at the briefing will be the Maersk Alabama’s second in command, Captain Shane Murphy. Joining Captain Murphy will be his father and counter-piracy expert Joseph Murphy II along with Admiral Richard Gurnon, Paul F. Kelly and Captain Thomas L. Bushy from Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Also joining the panel will be Douglas B. Stevenson, Director of the Center for Seafarers’ Rights.

• DATE: Thursday May 28, 2009
• TIME: 10:00 am
• LOCATION: The Charleston Room, Baystate Conference Center, Massachusetts Maritime Academy
• SUBJECT: Combating Piracy: Real World Solutions and Best Practices
• WITNESSES: Captain Shane Murphy, Second in Command on the Maersk Alabama