Asian shipowners have expressed their anger and outrage at the lack of government action in the face of escalating piracy incidents.
Teo, who is chairman of PIL, was speaking in his capacity as the chairman of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum’s (ASF) Safe Navigation & Environment Committee.
“As responsible owners and managers we must take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our seafarers,” he added.
“Not only are seafarers being tortured and murdered – civilians and children are being targeted as well. The situation is increasingly untenable.”
Last year 445 ships were attacked worldwide with 53 of them hijacked and 1,181 seafarers taken hostage. Around 700 of them remain held in ships off Somalia.
The Committee expressed “very serious concern” at the threat posed by pirates to shipping, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and in the waters off Somalia.
It said that while it appreciates the assistance and protection provided by the naval forces stationed in the region, it does not consider it “sustainable in the longer term.”
The ASF said it “strongly supports” calls to “neutralise the threat of the captured, hostage-crewed mother ships” that are allowing pirates to roam the Indian Ocean unimpeded.
It also backed calls for the use of private armed guards, albeit as a measure of last resort, to protect the lives and well-being of seafarers.
It said it “welcomes the proposal by Singapore” calling on the IMO to consider the development of non-mandatory guidance to assist ship owners and operators in employing private armed security service providers.
The proposal already has backing from the Philippines, the International Chamber of Shipping and shipowner association BIMCO.
The ASF also backed the submission to IMO from the Bahamas and the Marshall Islands calling for the accreditation of independent maritime security providers.
In closing, the ASF stressed that whilst ship owners and managers should do their utmost to protect their seafarers, ultimate responsibility for ensuring safety of navigation on the high seas should rest with governments.
