Meanwhile, prosecutors and defense attorneys continue debating whether Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse is actually old enough to face his charges, including piracy under the law of nations. The law, not used much since the 1800s, carried a mandatory death sentence which was downgraded to a lifetime in prison penalty. |AP|

Drawing of Muse holding his hand, stabbed by a Harlem sailor, by Elizabeth Williams/AP Photo

Before the courtroom was closed, Muse was asked if he understood that two lawyers were being assigned to his case because he reported having no financial resources.

Through an interpreter, Muse replied, “I understand. I don’t have any money.”

He then cried when his lawyers mentioned contacting his family in Somalia.

On May 21st, when Muse returns to court he will be the first person to face piracy charges in more than 100 years. |NYP|

Photograph by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images

It turns out the Navy had some extra help to keep tabs on the the lifeboat where Somali pirates were holding Maersk Alabama’s Captain Richard Philips captive. The Scan Eagle, an unmanned spy plane, was launched from the USS Bainbridge to discretely record video from above. The USS guided missile destroyer also kept busy this week, rescuing a Long Island-based ship from a Somali pirate attack on Tuesday. Click the images above to engage the surveillance gallery and also check out photos as the Navy collects evidence from the pirate’s last stand.

As you may have heard by now—unless you’re being held hostage by Somali pirates in a fully enclosed lifeboat floating in the Indian Ocean—the Maersk Alabama’s union Captain Richard Philips was freed on Sunday when Navy snipers shot his three remaining captors dead, ending the five day ordeal. The merchant marine experts blogging over at G-Captain posted details about the lifeboat the courageous seaman volunteered to vacation on. Turns out it was actually kind of roomy and stocked with supplies. Click through the gallery to get a better glimpse of the 1st class vessel and go here to get a rundown of the inventory that included emergency food rations, a jack-knife, and one set of fishing tackle, among other luxury survival gear.

It’s not U.S. warships or international flotillas that are going to stave off the onslaught of Somali pirates, it’s American unions. As Mother Jones points out, the crew of the Maersk Alabama, which was recently accosted, but later regained control of the ship are part of the Seafarers International Union* and they don’t mess around. Unlike non-union scabs, they’re well trained for any situation, after all they attended the “union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education” according to a statement from SIU:

Among the school’s course offerings are an anti-terrorism briefing that is given to every student; security awareness; vessel security officer; basic and advanced fire fighting; chemical, biological and radiological defense; vessel familiarization; small-arms training; damage control, and dozens more classes.

Apparently hostage negotiations wasn’t part of the curriculum as the captain is still being held captive after offering himself up and getting carted away on a lifeboat.

*Fun bonus fact: The SIU also represents all those heroic ferry crews that helped pull U.S. Airways passengers out of the icy waters of the Hudson River when Captain America safely glided the plane to safety—he’s also repped by a kick ass union!