Congressional hearing on piracy set for MMA

Source: Cape Cod Times

By KAREN JEFFREY
Kjeffrey@capecodonline.com

BUZZARDS BAY - The House Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee will meet Thursday at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy for a hearing on maritime piracy.
U.S. Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass., chairman of the committee, scheduled the hearing and will call on maritime experts to make recommendations on how to reform and improve maritime safety in the wake of increased piracy.
Among those testifying will be maritime academy graduate and the Maersk Alabama’s second in command, Captain Shane Murphy along with his father Joseph Murphy II, an instructor at the academy and counter-piracy expert.
Also testifying from the academy will be Adm. Richard Gurnon, president of the four-year academy, Paul F. Kelly, a member of the academy board of trustees and Capt. Thomas L. Bushy, vice president for marine operations at the academy. Douglas B. Stevenson, director of the Center for Seafarers’ Rights in New York City is also scheduled to testify.
The hearing is the third in a series of Congressional hearings and briefings focused on protecting sea-going vessels against piracy.
The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in the Charleston Room, Baystate Conference Center, Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay. It is open to the public.