A new Hollywood film starring Tom Hanks as the ship's captain who heroically volunteered as a hostage to save the lives of his crew from Somali pirates is gaining glowing reviews and Oscar tips.
But a $50 million lawsuit lodged by several of his men claims that in real-life Captain Richard Phillips was no hero but instead risked their lives as he sailed his cargo vessel into pirate-infested waters.
The Sony Pictures movie Captain Phillips, which opens in American cinemas on Friday and in Britain next week, is based on his account of the 2009 attack on the Maersk Alabama cargo vessel.
The stand-off ended when US Navy marksmen shot dead the pirates who were holding the 58-year-old captain captive on a small craft.
Capt Phillips returned home to a hero's welcome and his selfless bravery was lauded by President Barack Obama who said: "His courage is a model for all Americans."
But nearly half the 20 crew members are suing the ship's owner and operator in a case that will be heard by an Alabama court in December. They claim that rather than saving their lives, Capt Phillips' actions put them at risk in the first place.
The lawsuit claims that he ignored warnings from the US and British navies to remain at least 600 miles offshore and was less than 300 miles off the Somali coast when the pirates attacked.
In the court documents, the crewmen argue that they were "knowingly, intentionally and wilfully" sent into pirate territory to save costs for the company.
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