Tag: SOS Campaign

The Officers and crew of the Panama registered chemical tanker, Royal Grace, which was hijacked by Somali pirates almost exactly one year ago, have been released from their terrible ordeal. It is believed that an undisclosed sum was paid in ransom to the criminal gang which has been holding them since 2nd March 2012.The hostage group included nineteen Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi seafarers and three Nigerians.Further details are awaited.This development reduces the number of hostages still incarcerated in Somalia waters to just over one hundred; sixteen on the M/V Albedo, which was hijacked more than two years ago, twenty-six on M/S Symri, held since May last year and it is believed that the crews of three dhows and three fishing vessels are also being held against their will by Somali gangs.Commenting on the release, a spokesperson for the anti-piracy advocacy group www.saveourseafarers.com said, 'The release of these captive seafarers is to be celebrated after such an appalling length of illegal and inhuman captivity. We fervently hope that the other hostages will follow them to freedom very soon.'Although there has been a dramatic fall in the incidences of pirate attack in recent months, this event serves to remind us that Somali ...

Scorpio Marine runs Mumbai marathon to support Save Our Seafarers campaign

Save Our Seafarers Campaign Makes Significant Headway

32,149 SOS letters sent from the SOS website to governments worldwide so far On the eve of European Maritime Day, the international anti-piracy campaign, SOS SaveOurSeafarers, is calling on Europeans to continue to support seafarers and their families in the long, hard fight against Somali piracy.The campaign is using the EU's celebration of its seafarers to remind Europeans of the continuing threat faced by the world's seafarers and their families. Hostages suffer both physically and psychologically while being held for ransom and their families also endure huge anguish.Alastair Evitt, chairman of SOS SaveOurSeafarers, says:"Despite the international community's strenuous efforts to combat piracy, the world's seafarers continue to face the fear of being attacked in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, while helping to keep world trade moving. Since the launch of the SOS campaign last March, we have played a significant role in increasing awareness and interest worldwide of the realities of Somali piracy."Of the 32,149 SOS letters sent from the SOS website to governments worldwide, a significant number of letters have been sent to European governments. We encourage every person in the Europe to support their seafarers and their families on European Maritime Day. Add your voice to ...

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 ...

Seatrade Award for Countering Piracy The SaveOurSeafarers (SOS) campaign has been honoured with a Seatrade Award for its significant contribution in the fight against Somali piracy.The Seatrade Award for Countering Piracy was presented at the prestigious and respected Seatrade Awards ceremony, with more than 350 of the maritime industry's key players attending a high profile dinner at the Guildhall in London last night (May 14). Former UK Minister of State Michael Portillo was the Guest of Honour.Alastair Evitt, Chairman of SaveOurSeafarers and President of InterManager, accepted the award on behalf of the campaign. Hesaid: "Since the launch of the SOS campaign just over a year ago, SOS has developed a very strong and distinctive brand; it has helped to place the issue of Somali piracy firmly on the international agenda by securing broad mainstream media coverage; and it has helped achieve political recognition of Somali piracy as a real economic and humanitarian threat, significantly raising awareness and interest worldwide in the terrifying economic and humanitarian realities of Somali piracy, and the on-going plight of seafarers and their families."Currently over 225 seafarers are held hostage by Somali pirates, deprived not only of their freedom but also of proper food, and facing ...

India to support its 120,000 Indian seafarers The campaign is using the country's celebration of its seafarers to remind Indians of the continuing threat faced by its 120,000 seafarers and their families.Alastair Evitt, chairman of SOS SaveOurSeafarers, says:"Despite the international community's strenuous efforts to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the world's seafarers continue to face the fear and anguish of attack in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, while going about their job of keeping world trade moving through this area."India has the second largest seafaring population and the second largest nationality held by Somali pirates. Out of 256 seafarers currently hijacked, kidnapped and held on their vessels by Somali pirates, 65 are Indian. Moreover out of the 40 additional seafarers being held ashore, with no ship to be ransomed, at least 7 are Indian. Hostages suffer both physically and psychologically while being held prisoners for ransom, and their families also suffer huge anguish for their loved ones."Since the launch of the SOS campaign last March, we have played a significant role in increasing awareness and interest worldwide of the realities of Somali piracy. We have helped to persuade governments to show more determined political will in ...

Mr Alastair Evitt has been appointed chairman of the SOS campaign Alastair Evitt, President of InterManager and Managing Director of Meridian Marine Management Ltd, has been appointed chairman of the Save Our Seafarers campaign.Mr Evitt, who was previously SOS vice chairman, succeeds Giles Heimann who is stepping down to concentrate on his role as Secretary General of the International Maritime Employers' Committee LtdSave Our Seafarers (SOS) was launched in March 2011. It is calling for unified action to raise awareness of the human and economic cost of Somali piracy, and for greater political will to be shown by governments in their actions on this critical issue. The internationally important campaign has gained support across more than 190 countries worldwide.Through its internationally-recognised website, SOS provides up to date information and resources which highlight the effect of international pirate activity on the shipping industry, particularly the world's seafarers who risk robbery, captivity and even death.SOS has produced a short video highlighting the human and economic cost of Somali piracy. The six-minute video highlights the significant threat of Somali piracy attacks for the worldwide seafarer community and potentially for world trade itself.The video can be viewed by the following direct link: http://youtube/xgq71beY9JcAlastair Evitt, ...

Hollywood-style action sequences highlight piracy threat to world trade An anti-piracy film produced for the international SaveOurSeafarers (SOS) campaign, scooped the top prize at the Royal Television Society (RTS) North-East and Border awards. The short film, produced by YourFilm, fought off stiff competition to win the award for Best Promotion or Commercial at the awards held at Gateshead in north-east England.Featuring Hollywood-style action sequences, the video highlights the significant threat of Somali piracy attacks on the worldwide seafarer community and the impact on world trade.Matthew Newman, MD of YourFilm, said: "The SOS film was a great project to work on and pushed us to our creative limits."It included various unique challenges, not least the logistics of securing a location with a port happy to allow us to film a dozen guys dressed as pirates with AK-47s."Bill Box, Secretary of SOS SaveOurSeafarers, added: "We are delighted that Your Film has received industry recognition for the SaveOurSeafarers video which is playing a pivotal role in taking our campaign message to a wider audience."It has helped us to gain support outside as well as inside the maritime industry and highlights the need for firmer government action against Somali piracy."The campaign, launched in March ...

During this year;s holidays, 212 people still being held hostage! This humanitarian tragedy of Somali piracy becomes particularly apparent over Christmas and New Year with 212 people still being held hostage - even after the release of the Italian crude oil tanker Savina Caylin this week at the end of more than 315 days of being held by pirates.The merchant ships Iceberg 1, Olib G, Albedo, Orna, Fairchem Bogey, Liquid Velvet have clocked up over 2,000 days between them with 127 hostages on board in total.The fishing vessels Malaysia 618, Shiuh Fu No 1, Al Musaah, Alfardous have clocked up 1,595 days between them with 72 hostages on board in total.The yacht Choizil has clocked up 417 days with two hostages on board.But we think in particular of those seafarers being held without the negotiating power of being on board a ship - this includes the seafarers not released and retained when the Asphalt Trader was released (seven Indians), when the Gemini was released (four South Koreans) and when the rest of the crew from the fishing boat Prantalay 12 were released (four Thais). They are now being held ashore and should NOT become the forgotten casualties of Somali piracy.The ...