Somali pirates were holding 20 vessels and 420 crew on June 30
Even as the shipping ministry proposal to allow armed guards on Indian vessels are stuck up in official files, wanting more clarity on a host of issues, the number of pirate attacks on ships the world over has gone up to 266 in the first six months of 2011.
According to Piracy Reporting Centre (PRC) of International Maritime Bureau (IMB), the figure for the same period last year was 196. The report released late last week pointed out that more than 60% of the attacks were by Somali pirates, and majority of the piracy and armed robbery against ships were in the Arabian Sea area. As of June 30, Somali pirates were holding 20 vessels and 420 crew, and demanding ransoms of millions of dollars for their release, it added.
“In the last six months, Somali pirates attacked more vessels than ever before and they’re taking higher risks,” said IMB director Pottengal Mukundan. Although Somali pirates are more active – 163 attacks this year up from 100 in the first six months of 2010 – they managed to hijack fewer ships, just 21 in the first half of 2011 compared with 27 in the same period last year. This, the report says, is both thanks to increased ship hardening and to the actions of international naval forces to disrupt pirate groups off the east coast of Africa. “It is vital that this naval presence be sustained or increased,” he asserted.
Mean while, China’s largest shipping company, Cosco Shipping has announced its decision to spend $12 million on armed guards and other measures to protect its ships. The company said it would spend the money this year on bullet-proof vests and onboard equipment to deter attacks and protect its ships and crews in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. He said the measure was necessary for its ships when they were unable to avoid high-risk areas off Somalia, adding that the firm was keen on hiring British security companies which use former Special Air Service troops or Royal Marines.
Talking about armed guards on Indian vessels, Ab-dul Gani Serang, general secretary, National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) clarified: “Indian owners cannot deploy armed guards on their ships because they have not got clearance for that from the administration.” Mr Serang, who has been at the forefront of various programmes to save shipping and seafarers from pirate attacks, said: “The government should not think that it is giving any favour to the owners by allowing them to keep armed guards. This is sheer case of shying away from their responsibility. It is the primary of the governments to protect the ships. “We, however, we want to give credit to Indian government for being proactive in handling the issue.
It has arrested pirates and kept them captive, which no other government has done. Hats off to our government and the Navy for their efforts. They are willing to do more but they are bound by certain guidelines.” “Our ministry has agreed in principle to have armed guards on Indian bottoms.
But the guidelines could only be implemented if they get clearance from various other ministries like home affairs,” said an Indian National Shipowners’ Association (INSA) member. He said home ministry has got some issues about keeping arms on board the vessels. As the various arms of the government debate on the guidelines, according to PRC, for the first time pirates have fired on ships in rough seas in the Indian Ocean during the monsoon season. “In the past, they would have stayed away in such difficult conditions. Masters should remain vigilant,” Mr Mukundan cautioned.
“It is not a small matter like many people seem to see it. The solution involves lot of complicated issues like legality of carrying armed guards, insurance,” said the INSA member, adding, “None of the oil majors is agreeable to taking armed guards on ships because they are very much suspicious about them. Gulf countries do not allow a ship with armed guards to enter their ports.
Mr Serang said: “There is no concrete solution as of today as there are lot of politics involved, lot of vested interests are active here. There are certain agencies which want piracy to continue because it is a big business for them. He feels that a permanent solution would come only if there is a concerted effort under the mandate of United Nations.
Source: Economic Times
