ITF takes tougher stance on arming ships against pirates
Recommending the carrying of military guards on ships
The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) is now recommending the
carrying of military guards on ships, and is recognizing the use of private
armed guards, subject to certain conditions. However, it reaffirmed its
position that seafarers should never be armed.
On Friday, the global union federation said it is moving closer to having to
advise seafarers to consider avoiding working in all piracy affected areas -
including the Indian Ocean.
The ITF, whose membership includes 201 maritime trade unions representing
720,000 seafarers worldwide, took the step after a week-long consultation
sparked by the increasing number and range of Somali pirate attacks, and by
their now routine use of extreme violence and death threats against the 800
mariners they are currently holding hostage.
The ITF also endorsed the need to neutralize the threat of the captured,
hostage-crewed motherships that are allowing pirates to roam the Indian Ocean
unmolested.There are currently over 800 seafarers being held hostage by Somali
pirates.
ITF seafarers' section chair Dave Heindel commented: "The world has lost
control of piracy. Each day it's becoming more savage and more widespread. All
the Arabian Gulf and most of the Indian Ocean are now effectively lawless. Yet
there is a way that control can be regained: by actively going after pirates,
stopping them and prosecuting them. Not this ludicrous situation of taking away
their guns and setting them free to strike again.
"The burden of dealing with pirates is being borne by a few nations and the
burden of actually taking them to court by even fewer. We have repeatedly
requested stronger intervention by all governments, including the flag of
convenience states that are reaping the profits from so much of the world's
shipping fleet without meeting any of the obligations.
If we daily allow a few thousand thugs to rack up the danger and violence then
we will soon reach a point where there is no alternative but to stop putting
people and ships within their reach - with all the effects that could have on
world trade and oil and food prices."
These latest moves by the ITF reflect growing concern or even disgust across
the shipping industry that pirates are being allowed to endanger lives, kill
and put a stranglehold on vital trade routes almost at will. The ITF, BIMCO,
the International Chamber of Shipping, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and InterManager
have already warned that "shipowners and their crews will be re-evaluating
their current determination to ensure that this vital trade route remains open
- over 40% of the world's seaborne oil passes through the Gulf of Aden and the
Arabian Sea.
The shipping industry will be looking at all possible options, including
alternative routes, which could have a dramatic effect on transport costs and
delivery times - piracy is already estimated to cost the global economy between
$7-12 billion per year"
The ITF's position is laid out in the following ITF statement and revised
policy on piracy, adopted Friday.
The ITF Seafarers' Section considers that the grave increase in the level of
violence by Somali pirates directed against ships and seafarers has reached a
tipping point which calls for bold countermeasures. This has been caused by:
* The cold blooded murder of two seafarers and drowning of another member
of that crew;
* The increased brutality of the pirates and the systematic torture of crew
members on hijacked ships;
* The increased and sustained attacks against ships running the gauntlet of
gunfire and rocket propelled grenades in the area;
* The increase in the period of time seafarers are held captive;
* The increased use of motherships (ships previously captured with the
crews on them used as human shields) which have significantly increased the are
of operation of the pirates; and
* The increase in the number of attacks against vessels and the growing
number of seafarers being held.
We therefore advise seafarers and their trade unions to begin to prepare to
refuse to go through the danger area, which includes the Gulf of Aden, off the
Somali coast, the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean.
We call on shipowners to join us in avoiding going through the area. The risk
of passing through the affected area and the knowledge of the inhuman manner in
which captured seafarers will be treated amount to a breach of their duty of
care to seafarers. It is also reckless, to a point that, should a seafarer be
killed by a pirate attack while the vessel transits the high risk area, it
would amount to corporate manslaughter.
We call on the military to neutralize the threat caused by the use of
motherships.
We call on Governments to take all necessary measures to restore the freedom of
navigation in these critical trade routes and eliminate the threat of pirate
attacks.
Source: ITF
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