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Shipping world in piracy crisis call to IMO and UN
18 September 2008
The shipping world today made a crisis call to the (London-based) United Nations’ International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the United Nations (in New York) requesting real and immediate action against brazen acts of piracy, kidnapping and armed robbery, carried out with increasing frequency against ships in the Gulf of Aden, by pirates based in Somalia.
The Round Table of international shipping associations – BIMCO, Intercargo, International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping Federation and INTERTANKO – joined global trade union federation the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) to request the IMO Secretary-General, Mr Efthimios Mitropoulos, to use his organisation’s influence to ensure UN backing for increased naval force in order to protect the lives of seafarers and passengers as well as ships and cargoes.
The shipping industry’s plea is in response to a situation which it describes as in danger of spiralling completely and irretrievably out of control. The solution, the industry stresses, is for more nations to commit naval vessels in the area and, crucially, for them to engage effectively, actively and forcefully against any act of piracy, and to intercept and bring to justice the criminals in order to re-establish safety and security to one the world’s most strategically important seaways. Only interception and arrests, as permitted by UN Security Council Resolution 1816, will tackle the problem, with ships currently being attacked almost every day, often involving kidnapping and hostage taking, with pirates using automatic weapons including rocket propelled grenades.
In particular the industry believes there is currently a lack of political will on the part of governments to give military forces the clear rules of engagement they need, notwithstanding the mandate provided by the UN Security Council in June.
The organisations have advised the IMO Secretary-General that when attacks are being mounted over 200 nautical miles from the coast by heavily armed pirates using ocean going vessels, the standard advice being issued to ships – to avoid the area, keep alert and maintain speed – is rendered redundant.
The shipping industry believes that the only effective action is for the naval forces to engage actively and forcefully, as they are better armed, trained and resourced than those committing acts of piracy. The shipping industry does not underestimate the bravery or good intentions of those manning warships in the region, but the current patrolling and hands-off approach is clearly making no difference. They argue that while the naval forces are indeed ready to tackle the piracy problem, they need a clear signal from governments, through unequivocal rules of engagement, to do so.
The shipping organisations note that some major shipping companies are already refusing to transit the Gulf of Aden while many others are understandably considering similar steps, going on to warn that continued inaction against these violent acts could prompt shipowners to redirect their ships via the Cape of Good Hope, with severe consequences for international trade, including increased prices for delivered goods.
For more details please contact:
ITF Sam Dawson dawson_sam@itf.org.uk
Tel: +44 20 7940 9260
BIMCO
Peter Grube pg@bimco.org
Tel : +45 44 36 6800
International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping Federation
Tel : +44 20 7417 8844
INTERCARGO
Rob Lomas rob.lomas@intercargo.org
Tel : +44 20 7977 7030
INTERTANKO
Bill Box bill.box@intertanko.com
Tel : +44 20 7977 7010
Notes
A crisis point has now been reached, with nearly 40 hijackings taking place in the Gulf of Aden so far this year, with 133 kidnapped seafarers still being held hostage and with pirate attacks on shipping happening not even weekly or daily, but sometimes up to three times within hours. The International Maritime Bureau, the lead recording body for piracy, estimates that over 1,200 Somalis and at least six major groups are involved. At this moment 10 ships are being held and the industry fears for the seafarers on board. Seafarers are civilians and are entitled to protection as they go about their lawful profession. The current situation is threatening their right to life.
UN Security Council Resolution 1816, adopted on 2 June, permits States co-operating with
Additional information about the most recent pirate attacks against ships off
ENDS
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