Captain Phillips' First Mate Threatens Crewman with Machete -- I Am the Captain Now

The guy who was the first mate of the real-life Captain Phillips is now accused of terrorizing a crewman with a machete -- essentially acting out the movie.

You'll recall the character, Shane Murphy, who was held captive by Somali pirates in the Oscar-nominated movie. The real Shane Murphy is now captain of the M/V Energy Enterprise, a shipping vessel that operates between Tampa and New Orleans.

Murphy was simulating a pirate takeover with his crew last month, when he grabbed a machete and held it to a shipman's neck, demanding to know what he'd do if a real pirate insisted on seeing the captain.

The shipman, who fired off a lawyer's letter threatening to sue the company, says Capt. Murphy was so "out of his mind" he thought he was a dead man.

The letter claims the shipman is now deeply traumatized and unable to sleep or work. He wants $3 million for his troubles, or else.