Self-imposed impotence on pirates has ships dumping German flag

MORE German ships are flying the Liberian flag so they can offer more than the passive resistance to pirates in the face of the inability of the German navy to attack pirates because of passive German laws.

Roland Hoger, managing director of German shipowner Komrowski, has revealed to London's Lloyd's List that his company flagged out its 925-TEU Taipan to Liberia when passing through the pirate infested Gulf of Aden for its charterer Zim.

Shipowners temporarily adopt the flag of another country, or flag-out as it is called, to allow security contractors aboard to repel pirates if attacked. Unlike Germany, the Liberia recommends the use of armed guards to repel pirates.

The Taipan flew the German flag when attacked before and was recaptured by the Dutch navy while the crew cowered in a panic room.

The German navy was not able to accompany vessels under German federal law, because under German law, combating piracy is a police matter.

The spokesman for the German shipowners association, Verband Deutscher Reeder (VDR), Max Johns said: "Although they adhere to all passive security measures advised, their ships were still attacked."

The VDR, once adamantly against armed resistance, has changed its mind and now wants armed federal police accompanying vessels through the Gulf of Aden.

Said Mr Johns: "There is a lot of legal uncertainty regarding the use of mercenaries under the German flag. The big question is what happens if mercenaries shoot pirates on German sovereign territory."

Flagging is politically sensitive in Germany with owners benefiting from a generous tonnage tax regime, for which Berlin expects more ships under the German flag. But despite such efforts, German flagged vessels have fallen steadily.
(Source:www.schednet.com)