10,607 Filipino seamen got Japan protection from pirates—report

MANILA, Philippines—Of the more than 32,600 sailors who benefited from Japan’s Self-Defense Force’s “anti-piracy operations” in the Gulf of Aden during the past 18 months, at least 10,607 were Filipinos, according to the Japanese Embassy in Pasay City.

In a report, the embassy said “Filipino seafarers are by far the biggest beneficiaries of this ship escort operations in terms of crew members’ nationalities.”

The mission also disclosed that 10 Philippine-flagged ships were among 1,394 vessels that benefited from the same operations.

It said that “following the passage of Japan’s Law on Punishment and Measures against Acts of Piracy on July 24, 2009, its Self-Defense Force started vessel-escorting operations in the Gulf of Aden not only for Japanese vessels but also for all foreign vessels.”

“The legislation enables units of Japan’s Self-Defense Force (including P-3C patrol aircraft) to protect vessels from acts of piracy, complimenting other efforts made globally to ensure safe passage for ships off the coast of Somalia and the Gulf of Aden,” the embassy also said.

It added that the maritime bureau of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has been receiving “applications from various maritime-related organizations, such as ship operators and ship owners, from around the world for escort assistance and safe passage for vessels.”

A total of 374 Japanese sailors also benefited from the naval escort operations.

Their counterparts from other countries include nationals of: India, 5,824; China, 3,470; Ukraine, 2,210; Turkey, 1,683; Russia, 1,669; South Korea, 1,399; Myanmar, 958; Indonesia, 568; Bangladesh, 540; Thailand, 428; Latvia, 307; Greece, 275; Romania, 265; Croatia, 220; Bulgaria and Poland, both 189; Vietnam, 188; Pakistan, 179; Egypt, 111; Georgia, 102; Germany, 83; and the United Kingdom, 81, among others.

Vessels escorted by Japanese ships and aircraft included tankers (737), general cargo ships (436), special cargo ships (89), container ships (51), car carriers (41), LPG carriers (34), and passenger ships (5).

The subject vessels carried mainly the flags of Panama (435), Liberia (140), China (137), Marshall Islands (87), Malta (69), Singapore (66), India (54), the Bahamas (51), Antigua and Barbuda (43), Norway (42), Turkey (36), Isle of Man (26), South Korea (23) and Greece (922), among others.

Meanwhile, four Filipinos were among the crew members of MV Leopard, a Danish-owned cargo ship that was seized by Somali pirates last January 12, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The vessel was reportedly carrying “sensitive” cargo when the pirates boarded it off the coast of Oman.

The latest ship hijacking brought to 113 the total number of Filipino sailors being held by pirates in the east African state of Somalia.

The DFA office for migrant workers’ affairs has repeatedly assured the seamen and their families here that the government has been addressing the problem.

Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. said they have been “coordinating with all parties concerned, including the ships’ principals and local manning agencies, to ensure the safety and early release of the hostages.”

Lawyer J. Eduardo Malaya, DFA spokesman, said the government “has undertaken measures to minimize the exposure of Filipino seafarers to piracy attacks, including arrangements with ship principals and manning agencies, for the vessels to travel along a safety corridor in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, which is patrolled by friendly foreign navies.”

The DFA has also “taken up the issue of maritime safety and security before the UN and other international organizations,” according to Malaya.

Last year, the government deployed Navy Commander Gaudencio Collado as the country’s liaison officer to the Bahrain-based Combined Maritime Command, with groups navies from Japan, the US and European Union. –Jerry E. Esplanada, Philippine Daily Inquirer