News

Shippers warn: Piracy is not a local issue but a global concern for all

Friday, 25 February 2011

It is with grave concern that the European Shippers' Council (ESC) views the rising number of incidences of piracy, especially in the Indian Ocean.

The attacks occurring so far out to sea appears almost unprecedented in the modern era.

ESC, representing the freight interests of European business, has considerable sympathy for the ship operators and their crews, who are facing this added peril at sea, and fully understands that many must feel they have to take avoiding action in order to protect themselves.

Chairman of the ESC's Maritime Transport Council, Jean Louis-Cambon, said: "Given the risks to the lives of seafarers from acts of piracy, it is appropriate to raise concerns over the human and economic consequences of the situation. ESC finds it unacceptable that such violent activities continue to cause harm to crew members and disruption to international trade.

The recent statement of BIMCO, representing the interests of the international shipping industry, alluding to drastic solutions being envisaged such as organizing an industry-backed boycott in the region of the Indian Ocean most affected today, re-routing vessels around Cape of Good Hope, could have an enormous impact on supply chains and therefore on the overall economy.

The fact that ITF, a leading seafarer federation is now also threatening to ask its members to boycott vessels plying in the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean is adding further pressure for solutions to be found as a matter of urgency.

"Large-scale implementation of such a boycott would lead to serious economic consequences for many businesses, already stretched by the effects of slow steaming, rising fuel and energy prices, unstable and uncertain market demand, and austerity measures in the public and private sectors in Europe, North America and elsewhere. Companies are focused on cost reduction within their supply chains, efficiency enhancements, productivity increases, greater flexibility and agility in their supply chains. The proposal to divert all shipping away from the affected areas, via the Cape of Good Hope, would add further strains on business, and not least, greater costs.

ESC Secretary General, Nicolette van der Jagt, added, "The protection of shipping from piracy – regardless of flag, or the nationality of the crew – is a clear and legitimate responsibility for governments under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The European Shippers' Council urges governments around the world to uphold their responsibilities in the enforcement of the Convention, protection of their flags, and to cooperate and assist together fully in protecting all merchant shipping in their territorial waters.

The impacts of piracy are not just on the seafarers; they are not just local; they are global, affecting us all; and so everyone must act.