ID :
34119
Fri, 12/05/2008 - 19:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/34119
The shortlink copeid
PIRACY AT "INTOLERABLE" LEVEL, SAYS MARITIME EXECUTIVE By Muin Abdul Majid
DUBAI, Dec 5 (Bernama) -- The massive deployment of foreign navies to the
vital shipping lane off the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden has so far
failed to slow the rate of pirate attacks, with new ships taken almost daily,
according to maritime executive Christopher Hayman.
He said most commentators agreed that piracy was merely the symptom of a
real crisis -- the political collapse of Somalia.
"The solution may not be about sending navies to combat piracy but ending
the long-standing civil war in the country which has given rise to this
maritime lawlessness," said the chairman of Seatrade, organisers of the Seatrade
Middle East Maritime 2008 exhibition and conference taking place here in the
middle of this month.
He said there had been nearly 100 hijackings, attempted or successful, with
around 300 seamen being held by pirates, making the waters off Somalia the most
dangerous in the world.
"The level of hijackings has clearly reached an intolerable level," said
Hayman, observing that attempts to protect ships by bringing in security
companies had also been ineffective thus far.
"The simple fact is that even though there are patrols, warships
cannot be
everywhere. There are also grave dangers in the increasing militarisation of
the waters off the Horn of Africa," he said.
Seatrade specialises in publications, events, management training, awards
schemes and websites covering all aspects of maritime activity.
In 2004, Seatrade Middle East opened in Dubai, emphasising the company's
commitment to the region.
Among the estimated 300 seamen currently being held by Somali pirates are
the 25 crew of the Saudi Arabian-owned supertanker, Sirius Star -- the largest
ship taken by pirates -- with US$100 million worth of crude oil on
board.
Piracy is also affecting traffic through the vital Suez Canal linking the
Red Sea to the Mediterranean, with a number of major shipping companies
announcing the re-routing of cargo around South Africa's Cape of Good
Hope.
Some US$30 million is estimated to have been paid in ransom this year alone
and the pirates are said to be receiving an average of US$2 million for each
vessel seized.
Hayman said a special seminar would be held at this year's event to
examine
the enormous challenge which piracy now represented for ship operators in the
region.
"In particular, we will be addressing the risk of injury to crew, the
damage
or loss of vessels or cargo as well as loss of earnings," he added.
Held biennially in Dubai, the organisers said the 2008 edition of the
exhibition would be the largest to date, with the participation of more than 250
companies and national pavilions being put up by countries such as China,
France, Germany, Holland, India, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
-- BERNAMA
vital shipping lane off the Horn of Africa and the Gulf of Aden has so far
failed to slow the rate of pirate attacks, with new ships taken almost daily,
according to maritime executive Christopher Hayman.
He said most commentators agreed that piracy was merely the symptom of a
real crisis -- the political collapse of Somalia.
"The solution may not be about sending navies to combat piracy but ending
the long-standing civil war in the country which has given rise to this
maritime lawlessness," said the chairman of Seatrade, organisers of the Seatrade
Middle East Maritime 2008 exhibition and conference taking place here in the
middle of this month.
He said there had been nearly 100 hijackings, attempted or successful, with
around 300 seamen being held by pirates, making the waters off Somalia the most
dangerous in the world.
"The level of hijackings has clearly reached an intolerable level," said
Hayman, observing that attempts to protect ships by bringing in security
companies had also been ineffective thus far.
"The simple fact is that even though there are patrols, warships
cannot be
everywhere. There are also grave dangers in the increasing militarisation of
the waters off the Horn of Africa," he said.
Seatrade specialises in publications, events, management training, awards
schemes and websites covering all aspects of maritime activity.
In 2004, Seatrade Middle East opened in Dubai, emphasising the company's
commitment to the region.
Among the estimated 300 seamen currently being held by Somali pirates are
the 25 crew of the Saudi Arabian-owned supertanker, Sirius Star -- the largest
ship taken by pirates -- with US$100 million worth of crude oil on
board.
Piracy is also affecting traffic through the vital Suez Canal linking the
Red Sea to the Mediterranean, with a number of major shipping companies
announcing the re-routing of cargo around South Africa's Cape of Good
Hope.
Some US$30 million is estimated to have been paid in ransom this year alone
and the pirates are said to be receiving an average of US$2 million for each
vessel seized.
Hayman said a special seminar would be held at this year's event to
examine
the enormous challenge which piracy now represented for ship operators in the
region.
"In particular, we will be addressing the risk of injury to crew, the
damage
or loss of vessels or cargo as well as loss of earnings," he added.
Held biennially in Dubai, the organisers said the 2008 edition of the
exhibition would be the largest to date, with the participation of more than 250
companies and national pavilions being put up by countries such as China,
France, Germany, Holland, India, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
-- BERNAMA
