More than 62 seafarers have been murdered and more than 3,000 have been held hostage
Piracy was top of the agenda at this year’s Asian Shipowners’ Forum annual meeting in Douglas, Australia with participants coming together to demonstrate their support for the Save our Seafarers campaign.
Over the pastseven years, more than 62 seafarers have been murdered and more than 3,000 have been held hostage from the almost 200 ships hijacked by Somali pirates off the coast of Somalia, Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean. Piracy has cost the global economy an estimated $5billion to $7bn in 2011, including protective measures to safeguard ships and crew, increased insurance costs, as well as the millions of dollars in ransom money.
The ASF backed the decision by the European Council to take disruptive action against known pirate supplies on the Somalia shore. Noel Hart, Chairman of the 21st ASF said: “The operations carried out by EU Naval Forces has sent a clear signal that piracy cannot be tolerated. Blatant attacks on innocent ships and seafarers must be stopped! The ASF urges continuing and stronger political will to address the root causes of piracy – on land in Somalia.”
Patrick Phoon, Chairman of the Safe Navigation and Environment Committee, added: “We are very grateful that the combined naval forces are keeping a vigilant eye in this area. Given the great expanse of coverage, it is no small task to safeguard these waters from Somali pirates. The ASF is developing a Counter Piracy Proposal in response to the continuing threat of Somali piracy, the details of which will be presented to Working Group 1 of the Contact Group for Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS).”
The Seafarers Committee of the ASF said it remained deeply concerned for the well-being of the 197 seafarers currently being held hostage on hijacked ships2, as well as the seven Indian seafarers who continued to be held hostage despite payment of ransoms.
Meanwhile, Mr S Hajara, President of Indian National Shipowners’ Association, was elected as the Chairman of the 22nd ASF. Akimitsu Ashida, President of Japanese Shipowners’ Association, was elected as Vice-Chairman.
Source: Ship Management International
