Let Pinoy sailors board only pirate-proofed ships

The Philippine government should stop deploying seafarers in ships that don’t have safety practices to combat piracy in place, a US naval official said Monday.

Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) chief of staff Capt. Chris Chambers also welcomed the Philippine government’s plan to prosecute pirates, saying this will do a lot in strengthening the global anti-piracy campaign.

Chambers, who heads the US-led CMF that monitors the pirate-infested waters surrounding Somalia, spoke during a briefing at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on the piracy situation and his group’s anti-piracy efforts, particularly in the Somali Basin and the Gulf of Aden.

According to Chambers, ensuring that ships comply with international management standards and practices will bring down the number of Filipino seamen being taken hostage in Somalia where, he said, the danger posed by piracy is not likely to go away soon.

“We need the maritime industry to help protect themselves through best management practices, understanding the risks, training and protecting themselves. Your citizens should not board ships not following best management practices,” Chambers said.

“Ransom payments just keep going up. (Piracy is) not going away until they find an income that’s going to replace this and I don’t think it’s going to happen anytime soon in Somalia,” he said.

Best anti-piracy practices

While the Philippines is not a member of the CMF, it can still help solve the piracy problem owing to the country’s “great experience” in management practices, Chambers added.

He welcomed a Department of Justice plan to prosecute Somali pirates who took Filipino sailors hostage.

“There are very few places where we could turn over pirates once we catch them… And I will tell you, we don’t want these people on our warships so we need a place to take them and prosecute them,” he added.

Chambers cautioned foreign vessels against passing by areas were the risk of piracy is high, especially at dusk and at dawn, as pirates are known to attack during these hours.

Ships must maintain contact with the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, and coordinate with Combined Task Force 151 by giving information once they are freed.

Many shipping vessels have foiled piracy attacks by following such best practices, he said.

“Don’t be an easy target. Continue to follow the best management practices, and don’t be part of the problem,” Chambers said.

Over 300,000 Filipino seafarers

Of 1.2 million estimated seafarers worldwide, a fourth or more than 300,000 are Filipinos, the Apostleship of the Sea, a UK-based advocacy group, said.

DFA records show that Somali pirates are currently holding captive 119 seafarers in 11 vessels.

Some 542 Filipino seamen from 45 vessels have been kidnapped in the Gulf of Aden since 2006. Of this figure, 461 seamen from 39 ships have been released.

A separate release by the United Filipino Seafarers said that 2010, the group recorded over 700 seafarers who were victims of piracy in 243 incidents around the Horn of Africa, of which 202 were staged by Somali pirates.

Globally, the piracy scourge off the coast of Somalia has affected 28 vessels and 654 hostages, according to the European Union Naval Force.

Since Somalia descended into civil war in 1991, piracy off the Somali coast has been a threat to international shipping. It is currently run by a coalition government.

Piracy has added to huge increases in shipping costs and has impeded the delivery of food aid shipments; 90 percent of the World Food Program’s shipments to Africa passing through the Somali coast now require a military escort.

Poverty is widespread in Somalia, with millions depending on food aid. In 2008, the World Bank reported as much as 73 percent of the population lived on a daily income below $2. — With Jerrie Abella/VS, GMANews.TV