IMO seeks extension of UN resolution on piracy in Gulf of Aden

The London-based International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has asked for the extension of United Nations resolution 1816, which aims to tackle the upsurge in piracy in the Gulf of Aden.

Under the terms of the resolution, which was adopted in June for a period of six months, the Somalian government allows ships from countries co-operating in the anti-piracy effort to enter its territorial waters and use all necessary means consistent with international law to repress acts of piracy and armed robbery at sea.

"The secretary-general of the IMO has written to the UN secretary-general asking for extension of the mandate of 1816," said spokeswoman for the organisation.

UAE shipowners have shown great concern over the increasing acts of piracy, joining the international shipping community in its call to an immediate end to the incidents of hijacking, which they said threatened the future of shipping.

"A solution has to be found how to permanently put an end to this problem. It is likely to have future repercussions on the regional shipping industry as ships avoid affected routes," said Ramesh Ramakrishnan, Chairman of Transworld Group and Vice-President of UAE shipowners' Association. More than five ships flying the UAE flag were hijacked by Somali pirates in the past three years and later released after payment of hefty ransom.

Last week, shipping organisations made a crisis call to the IMO and the UN requesting real and immediate action against acts of piracy, kidnapping and armed robbery, carried out with increasing frequency against ships in the Gulf of Aden.

The round table of international shipping associations – Bimco, Intercargo, International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping Federation and Intertanko – joined global trade union federation the ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) to request the IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos to use his organisation's influence to ensure UN backing for an increased naval force in order to protect the lives of seafarers and passengers as well as ships and cargoes.

The industry's plea is in response to a situation that it describes as in danger of spiralling completely and irretrievably out of control.

"The shipping organisations note that some major companies are already refusing to transit the Gulf of Aden, while many others are understandably considering similar steps," the statement said, adding that the piracy attacks "could prompt shipowners to redirect their ships via the Cape of Good Hope, with severe consequences for international trade, including increased prices for delivered goods".

The Korea Shipowners' Association (KSA) has also spoken out over what it calls "brutal" pirate activities in the Gulf of Aden. These cases involved Bright Ruby, which was hijacked by Somali pirates on September 10 with 21 crew members from Korea and Myanmar, and the South Korean-flagged bulk carrier Samsun Elory, which was attacked in the region on September 16.

More than 30 vessels have been attacked by Somali pirates so far this year, KSA notes, and more than 130 seafarers taken as hostages for "exorbitant ransom".

"We strongly urge the international community and maritime nations to take tougher action such as the recent rescue operations by France, to suppress unpardonable piracy, armed robbery and other unlawful activities against ships in the Gulf of Aden," it said.

The Gulf of Aden is a vital international trading lane connecting the Indian Ocean with the Red Sea, with nearly 20,000 ships passing through it every year to the Suez Canal. This year so far there have been 50 attacks on vessels between the Gulf of Aden and Somalia, with 20 resulting in hijacks, the International Maritime Bureau said. Currently 12 vessels are held by pirates, with more than 250 crew held hostage. Owners have been calling for an increased international presence to help tackle the problem, and the United States Naval Central Command established a maritime security patrol area last month.

Currently the coalition forces are "patrolling a narrow corridor and ships operating outside the corridor are being seen as fair game by the pirates", said Sam Dawson, spokesman for the International Transport Workers' Federation, one of the organisations behind the crisis call.

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