INTERTANKO calls for more aggressive approach to tackle the scourge of Somali piracy

News Release INTERTANKO London May 21, 2010

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Given the
global strategic importance of keeping the international shipping lanes through
the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean open, INTERTANKO calls on governments to step
up their involvement and make it more effective. 
 
The tanker industry appreciates
the efforts of the naval forces, that have been protecting international
shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean from Somali-based pirates, for
their involvement and support, and acknowledges their impressive record in
reducing successful pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden in particular. In
parallel, many ship owners, ship
managers and seafarers have also been making sacrifices and commitments to keep
the world’s energy and chemical trades flowing. 
 
However the
effectiveness of this work is being diminished by the inability to bring pirates
to justice and to prevent them from returning to operation after capture and
release, and by the recent extension of piratical activity far into the Indian
Ocean. 
 
Reflecting what
INTERTANKO’s Chairman Capt Graham Westgarth recently called “a significant degree of frustration”, the
Association’s Members are therefore now urging Governments to step up their
involvement and commit to the maintaining of
international sea lanes with concerted efforts to find real and workable
solutions to enable them to fight
piracy more aggressively and effectively by:
 
<UL style="MARGIN-TOP: 0cm" type=disc>
<LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt" class=MsoNormal>increasing naval and
other appropriate military support, and by adjusting their rules of engagement
for naval forces - rules which should be robust enough to tackle piracy
head-on;
<LI style="LINE-HEIGHT: 15pt" class=MsoNormal>ensuring effective
powers are granted and are in place to arrest, detain and bring to justice all
those who operate on the high seas outside the law. </LI></UL>
 
The tanker shipping
industry, oil, gas and chemical, keeps world trade flowing through this vital
artery which connects East and Middle East with West. Governments will be well
aware of the dramatic and economically damaging impact on global trade if the
world’s ship owners and seafarers were to conclude that they can no longer
safely trade their vessels through this region.
 
Recognising the need
for stronger action, renewed focus and new initiatives, INTERTANKO has also
joined with others in the international shipping industry to support a global
e-petition demanding action, whereby it is intended to deliver
at least half a million signatures to the IMO and to governments by mid
September this year. Click for <A
href="redir.aspx?C=65cb9d1bfb3d4851a0727cdc34118149&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.intertanko.com%2fupload%2fWorld%2520push%2520for%2520piracy%2520action%2520launches%2520tomorrow.doc"
target=_blank>industry press release</A> and petition.
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