Discovery Plans Somali Pirate Special

SILVER SPRING: Discovery Channel and Military Channel have teamed up for the world premiere of Somali Pirate Takedown: The Real Story, a special that features new footage of the pirates aboard the rogue lifeboat as well as the first-ever broadcast interviews with members of the Maersk Alabama crew.

The special will feature an outline of the U.S. Navy’s efforts to successfully rescue Captain Phillips, alongside exclusive footage shot by Military Channel’s embedded crews aboard U.S. Navy ships leading counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. The project premieres June 21 on Discovery Channel, with an extended version premieres on Military Channel on June 23. Somali Pirate Takedown: The Real Story was produced by Discovery Studios, in association with Single Malt Media, for Discovery Channel and Military Channel.

John Ford, the president and general manager of Discovery Channel, said, "The world stopped and watched as the harrowing story of the Maersk Alabama unfolded. This special provides a riveting moment-by-moment account of the ship’s story—from the time the pirates boarded the cargo vessel to the safe return of Captain Phillips—in an emotional series of first-person interviews with the crew and new footage of the pirates. For the first time, viewers will hear the complete story of what really happened aboard the cargo ship. To be able to showcase the crew’s heroism as well as the U.S. Navy’s ongoing efforts to keep the waterways safe is an honor and a privilege for Discovery Channel and Military Channel."

"Military Channel is dedicated to honoring the heroes of the U.S. armed forces and there is no better example then this story featuring the men and women of the U.S. Navy who helped bring Captain Phillips home safely," added Clark Bunting, the president and general manager of Military Channel. "In partnership with Discovery Channel, Somali Pirate Takedown: The Real Story showcases the skill and bravery of the U.S. Navy, which is combating the pirates who terrorize the waters off Somalia, in order to ensure the safe passage of vessels through these vital shipping channels."