Ships crossing Somalia urged to build ‘panic rooms’

MANILA, Philippines – The Trade Union Congress of the Philippines on Monday urged the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to compel ships using the “Pirate Alley” off Somalia to build in fortified rooms where crew members can hide in the event of an attack.

TUCP secretary-general Ernesto Herrera said the installation of “panic rooms” should be among the additional defensive measures taken by merchant ships to thwart pirates prowling the Gulf of Aden.

He cited the experience of 16 crew men aboard the German freighter MV Beluga Fortune, who were rescued unharmed after Somali pirates seized their ship on October 24.

The sailors were rescued unharmed after they sent out a distress call, cut off the ship’s fuel supply, shut down all power on the bridge, and dug themselves in a safe room before they could be overwhelmed by the pirates. Unable to take charge of the ship, or hold any crew member hostage, the pirates were eventually forced to abandon the vessel. The marauders were already gone when British and German forces rescued the crew members.

Herrera said the panic rooms should have communications equipment, adequate food, water and ventilation provisions to enable crew members to survive until they are rescued.

Recently, pirates hijacked yet another vessel, the Panama-flagged tanker MV Polar, off Somalia. The ship’s 24 crew members included 16 Filipinos.

The Gulf of Aden is part of the vital Suez Canal shipping route between the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Sea in the Indian Ocean. The gulf is known by the moniker “Pirate Alley” on account of the growing piracy in the area.

Over 21,000 ships navigate the Gulf of Aden every year. Herrera said many if not all of them are bound to have Filipino sailors on board.

Foreign shipping firms, mostly based in the U.S., the United Kingdom, Japan, Norway, Germany, Greece, Cyprus, and Singapore, employ more than 350,000 Filipino sailors.

Without counting the MV Polar and its crew, Somali pirates are still holding 19 vessels with 428 hostages. –abs-cbnNEWS.com