Shipping chiefs call on 'people power' to pressure governments to crack down on Somali pirates
INTERTANKO has been spearheading an industry initiative calling on 'people power' to pressurise governments to crack down on Somali pirates, particularly on their mother ships, and on the catch-and-release of pirates which does nothing to deter piracy.
The SOS (Save Our Seafarers) campaign was launched in the beginning of March using dramatic half-page advertisements in the Financial Times (Global) and the Wall Street Journal (U.S., EU and Asia)). There is also a brand-new website - www.saveourseafarers.com
The focus of the campaign is to get as many people as possible to send the SOS letter to their chosen head of government - you can do this from the SOS website with just two clicks.
- The campaign is rapidly gathering momentum. The U.S. Embassy in London has asked to remove Assistant Secretary Shapiro's Chief of Staff from the SOS drop-down e-mail list, as he has received over 600 letters already and his in-box is getting clogged up! This is just what this campaign is about -making politicians sit up and take note.
Here is what Y O U can do. - Mobilise your colleagues, your family, your friends and above all your seafarers to do this. We believe that we can get millions to act. People power can bring about real change. We and Y O U can influence governments to show more political will and act to deter and eradicate piracy in the Indian Ocean.
- So that we can keep the new SOS website up-to-date and attract people to it, we would appreciate any material that you can give us related to piracy - video clips, photographs, reports of pirate action even where the pirates were evaded, reports from seafarers who have been through hostage situations. The more vibrant we can make this website, the more people will go to it, and the more people will sign up and send letters to their governments. Please e-mail anything you have to bill.lunn@bs-shipmanagement.com
- See what is happening on the SOS Twitter and Facebook pages - follow by clicking on the SOS website's home page . http://www.saveourseafarers.com
The following is the text of the joint press release that was sent out to launch the campaign.
"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 placed 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.
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."
