Ship  Owners, ITF and IMO Renew Advocacy for International Community to End Piracy

press release stating that the bulk carrier Renuar has been released from pirate control in Somalia. The vessel was hijacked on December 11, 2010 in the Indian Ocean approximately 550 nautical miles off the coast of India. (4/28/11)."

As of April 26, 2011, there were at least 49 foreign vessels and one barge held by Somali pirates, and at least 763 hostages of captives.

"Piracy: orchestrating the response"

Launch of World Maritime Day theme for 2011

Action Plan to promote the 2011 World Maritime Day theme:

The main aims of the Action Plan are to:

·         increase pressure at the political level to secure the release of all hostages being held by pirates;

·         review and improve the IMO guidelines to Administrations and seafarers and promote compliance with industry best management practices and the recommended preventive, evasive and defensive measures ships should follow;

·         promote greater levels of support from, and coordination with, navies;

·         promote anti-piracy coordination and co-operation procedures between and among States, regions, organizations and industry;

·         assist States to build capacity in piracy-infested regions of the world, and elsewhere, to deter, interdict and bring to justice those who commit acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships; and

·         provide care for those attacked or hijacked by pirates and for their families.

In carrying out the Action Plan, IMO and the international maritime community will seek to:

·         engage at the political level (including at the UN Security Council) to bring about a solution to the Somali problem and facilitate and expedite the release of hostages. Calling the world's attention to the unacceptable plight of the innocent victims of pirates - seafarers, in the main - and, by so doing, create a worldwide momentum that would eventually lead to their release;

·         strengthen the protection of persons and ships sailing through piracy-infested areas by regularly reviewing and promulgating the IMO guidelines to Administrations and seafarers and making industry-developed best management practice guidance widely available; enabling ships' masters and officers to access any available naval protection; encouraging compliance with the recommended preventive, evasive and defensive measures; and promoting even greater levels of support from navies;

·         promote co-operation between and among States, regions and organizations to reduce the risk of attacks on ships through information-sharing; coordination of military and civil efforts; and development and implementation of regional initiatives, such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct;

·         help build up the capacity of States, in piracy-infested regions of the world and elsewhere, to deter, interdict and bring to justice those who commit acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships, thereby enhancing maritime law enforcement and the safety and security of life at sea. And, while so doing, help tackle the root causes of piracy through the provision of assistance to States for the development of their maritime capacities and the protection of their maritime resources. And, in the case of Somalia, to contribute, in any way possible (including through the potential development of a coastal monitoring force) to the stability of the country, which in due course, will also have a beneficial impact on safety, security and stability; and

·         work with all involved in the provision of social care and humanitarian support to ensure that they can deliver their services expeditiously to those attacked or hijacked by pirates and to their families.

In order to achieve the objectives of the Action Plan, during 2011:

1.    IMO will continue to promote the suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships in close co-operation with United Nations Headquarters, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs, Division of Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (UN DOALOS/OLA), the United Nations Department of Political Affairs, Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS/DPA), the World Food Programme (WFP), African Union (AU), the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CG PCS), European Union (EU), Regional Cooperation Agreement on combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia - Information Sharing Centre (ReCAAP-ISC), the Combined Maritime Force (CMF), the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Member States of the Organization;

2.    in close co-operation with UNPOS/DPA, UNODC, Interpol and others, IMO will continue to support the "Kampala Process" in order to provide assistance to the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia and the regional authorities to develop the country's maritime sector and to meet international obligations, including possible development of a Coastal Monitoring Force;

3.    pursuant to the development of an Integrated Coast Guard Function Network for West and Central African States, IMO, working in close co-operation with the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa, UNODC, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UN CTED), the AU, the EU, Interpol, the Africa Partnership Station, the North Atlantic Coast Guards Forum, the Chiefs of European Navies, IMO Member States and the industry will implement a programme of multiagency, regional meetings to develop west and central African States' capacities to perform coast guard functions, including maritime law enforcement and suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea;

4.    through the implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct and in co-operation with the Djibouti Code signatory States, IMO will pursue the establishment of a regional information sharing network through a network of National Focal Points (NFPs) in every Djibouti Code signatory State, reporting to each other via the agreed Information-Sharing Centres Sana'a, Mombasa and Dar Es Salaam to be commissioned during 2011;

5.    in co-operation with the EU and the Government of Djibouti, IMO will pursue the development of the Djibouti Regional Training Centre (DRTC);

6.    in close co-operation with UNODC, UN DOALOS /OLA and CGPCS Working Group 2, IMO will assist in the review of existing national legislation in the Djibouti Code of Conduct signatory States and other IMO Member States to ensure the development of robust legal frameworks for suppressing piracy;

7.    through the Assembly of IMO, the Maritime Safety, Legal and Facilitation Committees and the various technical Sub-Committees of the Organization, IMO will continue to promote the efforts of Member States, the Industry Group and the CGPCS to develop and enhance guidance on the prevention and suppression of acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships; best practices on training; post-piracy care of seafarers; investigation of offences; and other related issues;

8.    IMO will continue improving the standard and availability of information on piracy incidents via the Organization's Global Integrated Shipping Information System (http://gisis.imo.org ) and provide comprehensive piracy-related information on the IMO website, including information on previous and present IMO efforts to counter piracy;

9.    IMO will continue to help build capacity, including through the delivery of conferences, seminars, workshops and training courses, to assist States and seafarers to participate energetically and effectively in the counter piracy effort; and

10.  IMO will seek to enhance public awareness of the piracy issue through outreach programmes, media, social networks and the development of promotional materials.

Press briefing

1 March, 2011

For immediate release

Shipping chiefs call on 'people power' to pressure governments to crack down on Somali pirates now throttling vital trade routes

Ship owners and seafarers are calling on 'people power' to push their governments to act now and show the political will to resolve the growing Somali piracy crisis before it strangles world trade and before more innocent seafarers are tortured and murdered.

The SOS Save Our Seafarers campaign, launched today by BIMCO, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Shipping Federation (ISF), Intercargo, INTERTANKO and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), is aimed at encouraging millions of people around the world to heap pressure on their national Governments to crack down on piracy. They are calling on YOUR help.

The Somali piracy crisis affects you and every one of us worldwide. The dramatic recent extension of the pirates' operating area right across the Indian Ocean** means that there are now no alternative routes to avoid the Somali pirate gangs, especially for tankers coming out of the Gulf. Ship owners and seafarers are re-evaluating their current determination to ensure that these vital trade routes remain open, and are going to have to choose whether to trade through this area or not.

Merchant ships are being attacked daily, running a gauntlet of gunfire and rocket propelled grenade attacks from armed gangs of Somali pirates. Over 800 seafarers are currently held hostage on their hijacked ships. Subjected to physical and psychological abuse for months at a time, they are held ransom for millions of dollars.

Yet even when caught red handed by naval forces, 80% of pirates are released to attack again. Why? Because the world's politicians don't realise the severity of this critical situation. The governments give the orders. The governments hold the key to resolving this crisis. But they seem unwilling to face reality and act. Their brief to the naval forces is simply to deter and disrupt, unless it involves a national interest.

Enough is enough. The Round Table of international shipping associations (RT) and the ITF are placing hard-hitting advertisements in key major international newspapers on 1 March to kick off the SOS Save Our Seafarers campaign which highlights the plight of seafarers and, with six specific requests, brings pressure to bear on governments to show more political will and fewer legalistic excuses in dealing with Somali piracy.

Six specific requests

We are specifically asking for governments to recognise the threat to our seafarers and the world economy, and take the necessary steps to eradicate piracy at sea and ashore by:

• Reducing the effectiveness of the easily-identifiable pirate motherships.
• Authorising naval forces to detain pirates and deliver them for prosecution and punishment.
• Fully criminalising all acts of piracy and intent to commit piracy under national laws in accordance with their mandatory duty to co-operate to suppress piracy under international conventions.
• Increasing naval assets available in this area.
• Providing greater protection and support for seafarers.
• Tracing and criminalising the organisers and financiers behind the criminal networks.

SOS Save our Seafarers

The RT and the ITF have launched a new website for the SOS Save Our Seafarers campaign  http://www.saveourseafarers.com/. Just two clicks and supporters can send a pre-prepared letter, signed by them, to their chosen heads of government. The website will also have up-to-the minute information on the piracy situation, and an SOS TV page with film clips and pictures.

Piracy is out of control - background**

As pirates use hijacked merchant ships (so-called motherships) to extend their reach almost to India's coast some 1,500 miles from Somalia, the lawlessness has spread right across the Indian Ocean through which half the world's oil supply passes. Tankers coming from the Gulf and the Middle East can no longer avoid the pirates - and a hijacked tanker with 2 million barrels of oil represents 20% of daily oil imports to the USA.

In addition to the human cost, piracy is strangling key supply routes and costing the global economy $12 billion a year.

We rely on freedom of the seas for the safe delivery of 90% of our food, fuel, raw materials, humanitarian aid and manufactured goods. Shipping serves international trade and assists economic activity and therefore regional stability in neighbouring countries. This freedom to serve world trade is threatened. 

Save Our Seafarers Is On YouTube

Numerous reports and news items related to piracy are produced throughout the world, but for the average seafarer welfare agent or maritime minister, knowing and finding these clips can be a great challenge. 

To help bring the piracy issue to the public, the sponsoring agencies of Save Our Seafarers have harnessed the main strands of social networking, and have placed them at the service of the campaign. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube all have dedicated Save Our Seafarers sections.  

In preparing for this article, I just discovered that my own congressman, Congressman Ted Poe, is one of the featured videos. You may find your own government leaders on the Save Our Seafarers site. If he or she is there, be sure and send a message to him or her for speaking out for our seafarers. 

CLICK BELOW FOR SAVE OUR SEAFARERS ON:

Twitter 

Facebook 

YouTube

AOS USA Conference

The AOS USA Annual Meeting will be held from May 3-6, 2011, in Duluth, Minnesota.

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To call for reservations, call 1-888-668-4352. We have a room block from May 2-May 6. Be sure to tell them you are with the Apostleship of the Sea USA conference.  

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