The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on piracy off the Somali coast. Witnesses talked about the proper role of the U.S. government in protecting shipping, particularly of American flagged ships. Captain Richard Phillips, who was held hostage by pirates off the Somali coast for 5 days, called for military protection and armed crew members to thwart attacks in dangerous waters. John Clancey, head of the shipping line that was attacked, said arming and training crew officers would be prohibitively expensive and would result in a potentially deadly arms race with pirates.