Former pirates' hostage favors military escorts for ships

WASHINGTON (CNN) - Richard Phillips, the cargo-ship captain whose capture by pirates triggered a dramatic Naval rescue off the coast of Africa, called on the federal government Thursday to provide military escorts for international shipping vessels.

But Phillips conceded that there may not be sufficient resources to do that.

He also said that arming vessels' crews could possibly provide an effective deterrent - but only under certain limited circumstances.

Phillips was in charge of the cargo ship Maersk Alabama when it was boarded by pirates off the coast of Somalia on April 8.

Phillips told members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that he would not be opposed to having private security forces on a vessel, but "very clear protocols would have to be established and followed. ... In the heat of an attack, there can be only one final decision-maker."