Asian shipowners demand real government action to stop pirates

ASIAN shipowners are up in arms over what they describe as being a "lack of government action" to tackle the escalation in piracy attacks on their ships off the coast of Somali, in the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden. As a last resort, they would support the deployment of armed guards on board vessels to protect the crew and ship.


Representatives of Asian shipowners' associations expressed their "anger and outrage" over the attacks and the "brutality" shown by Somali pirates at the 20th Interim Meeting of the Asian Shipowners' Forum (ASF) Safe Navigation & Environment Committee (SNEC) in Singapore.


"The current situation, where a handful of pirates in open skiffs can hold the world's economy hostage, is completely unacceptable. As responsible owners and managers, we must take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and well-being of our seafarers," said SS Teo, SNEC chairman in a joint statement from the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners' Associations (FASA) and SNEC.


"Not only are seafarers being tortured and murdered, civilians and children are being targeted as well. The situation is increasingly untenable."


SNEC is demanding that all governments act decisively and expeditiously to eradicate piracy and attacks on ships. "Whilst appreciating the assistance and protection provided by the naval forces stationed in the Gulf of Aden presently, the committee does not consider it sustainable in the longer term," it said.


"The committee is of the unanimous view that the United Nations and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) must exercise strong political will to bring the situation under control."


The SNEC said it will fully comply with all the measures put forward by the shipping industry in the latest version of Best Management Practices to deter piracy. However, it said the committee also "appreciates that individual ASF members may adopt additional safety measures such as the use of armed guards to protect the lives and well-being of their seafarers."


It said: "Whilst the committee further acknowledged that the use of private armed guards should be a measure of last resort, the committee nonetheless welcomes the proposal by Singapore, with support from the Philippines, ICS and BIMCO, calling on the IMO to consider the development of non-mandatory guidance to assist shipowners and operators in employing private armed security service providers.


"Furthermore, the committee supports the submission to IMO from the Bahamas and the Marshall Islands calling for the accreditation of independent maritime security providers."


Asian shipowners also said they "strongly support" calls by international shipping organisations worldwide to neutralise the threat of the captured, hostage-crewed mother ships that are "allowing pirates to roam the Indian Ocean unimpeded," they said.


It was noted at the meeting that pirates in 2010 attacked 445 ships and hijacked 53 of them, taking 1,181 seafarers hostage worldwide. About 700 seafarers are said to currently remain hostage in "deplorable" conditions off Somalia.
(Source:http://www.schednet.com)