Republic of Libera- Republic of the Marshall Islands – Republic of Panama
Concerned about the increasing violence faced by seafarers on dangerous transits through the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the Maritime Administrations of the world’s three largest maritime flag states, representing approximately 40 per cent of the world’s registered tonnage, are supporting new reporting procedures to better document the violence faced by seafarers. These three flag states are Liberia, the Marshall Islands and Panama.
As documented in the Human Cost of Somali Piracy Report released on June 6, this year by Oceans Beyond Piracy, thousands of seafarers have been subjected to gunfire, beatings, confinement, and in some cases torture; however, the human cost of piracy is still underreported and misunderstood by the public. The study indicates that during the course of 2010:
4185 Seafarers were attacked with firearms and Rocket Propelled Grenades.
342 Survived Incidents in Citadels (ships’ reinforced security rooms).
1090 Seafarers were taken hostage.
516 Seafarers were used as human shields.
In order to better document the violence faced by seafarers as an instrument of piratical acts, the Maritime Authorities of the Republic of Panama, the Republic of Liberia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands have signed a declaration, affirming their commitment to supply information provided to the flag State following acts of piracy or armed robbery to the International Maritime Bureau, which has been identified by Oceans Beyond Piracy as the appropriate body to collect and report such information.
The Declaration was signed by representatives of the three Maritime Authorities at a ceremony on August 3, 2011 in the Zenger Room at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. The ceremony was also attended by Oceans Beyond Piracy, and the International Maritime Bureau.
DECLARATION CONDEMNING ACTS OF VIOLENCE AGAINST SEAFARERS
Recognizing the increasing problem of acts of piracy and armed robbery against merchant vessels and their seafarers and the increasing use of violence as an instrument of piratical acts;
Recalling the flag States pledge to continue to work within the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS), the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and with military, intelligence, industry and other contributing partners to find a solution to this crisis;
Recognizing that information regarding acts of piracy and armed robbery against merchant vessels and their seafarers and the increasing use of violence upon captured seafarers as an instrument of piratical acts is underreported;
Further Recognizing that the collection and reporting of such information will be of value to the maritime community as a whole and the global fight against piracy;
Committing to further work with ship owners and seafarers to ascertain the specific information needed to determine the human cost of these attacks;
Noting that the International Maritime Bureau, of the International Chamber of Commerce, has undertaken to collate and report information provided by vessel owners, operators, or seafarers following acts or attempted acts of piracy or armed robbery;
Agreeing that there are significant sensitivities associated with the reporting of information regarding acts of piracy and armed robbery against merchant vessels and their seafarers and the increasing use of violence as an instrument of piratical acts, and that all reporting bodies or agencies should be sensitive to the concerns of the owners, seafarers, and their families, and, unless already within the public domain, refrain from reporting or confirming the names of any vessel upon which an act of piracy or armed robbery has been committed, until such time as the vessel owners or operators can confirm notification to next of kin;
The undersigned flag States:
Affirm, in consideration of the potential sensitive nature of such information, their commitment to supply information provided to them by vessel owners, operators, or seafarers following acts or attempted acts of piracy or armed robbery to the International Maritime Bureau, in accordance with each flag States internal procedures.
Signed on August 3, 2011 by:
Republic of Libera
Republic of the Marshall Islands
Republic of Panama
Source: Oceans Beyond Piracy
