Pirate Attacks Increase, but Fewer Ships Taken
We’ve brought you several stories on high seas piracy, especially in the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, and described how the Seafarers (SIU) and global maritime unions are responding, including the “Save Our Seafarers” (SOS), anti-piracy campaign to push governments to do more to protect sailors and ships.
A new report shows attacks totaled 266 in the first six months of 2011, up from 196 incidents in the same period last year. But the pirates have captured fewer ships due to an increased naval presence in the troubled areas, one of the key elements that international seafaring unions pressed for with the SOS program.
Click here to read an update on the problems from the Seafarers LOG and here for more on the SOS program.
Unions, Shippers Demand Action to End Somali Piracy: Sign the Petition
 |
||||
|
||||
A coalition of international unions, shipping associations, insurers and other maritime groups are demanding “concrete action” to end the increasingly violent and brazen Somali piracy “that is putting lives at risk and threatening world trade.”
The pirates’ 2009 attack on the U.S.-crewed Maersk Alabama and last fall’s kidnapping of a British couple still being held for a $7 million ransom have grabbed headlines. But in the past two years, Somali pirates attacked hundreds of ships and kidnapped more than 1,800 seafarers crewing those vessels. Many are still being held for ransom.
The coalition has launched on online petition and is seeking half a million signatures by World Maritime Day, Sept 23. The petition asks governments to dedicate the resources necessary, including stepped up naval protection, to end the attacks and “regain control of the Indian Ocean from a handful of criminals.”
To read and sign the petition, go to www.endpiracypetition.org.
Training, Quick Thinking by Union Crew Saved Boarded Ship, New Look Reveals
|
||||
|
||||
For several days in April, the nation waited for the latest news from a U.S. merchant ship off the coast of Somalia, where the captain of the Maersk Alabama was being held hostage in a small lifeboat by Somali pirates.
The bare-bones news reports said pirates armed with AK-47s boarded the ship—which was carrying food relief supplies to Kenya—capturing Capt. Richard Phillips and several other crew members. The rest of the crew managed to evade the pirates and eventually capture one.
We learned Phillips brokered a deal allowing himself to be taken hostage April 8 in exchange for the pirates leaving the ship. On April 11, Navy Seal sharpshooters killed the trio of pirates holding Phillips and rescued the captain.
Now, thanks to an in-depth look at the drama’s first day—from pirate sightings to the launch of the hostage lifeboat—we get the firsthand story from the 20-man union crew.
Union Crew Avoids Pirate Takeover, But Ship’s Captain Held Hostage
A U.S.-flagged and crewed merchant ship carrying food relief supplies to Kenya was boarded by Somali pirates earlier today some 350 miles off the African coast. According to the latest news reports, the crew has regained control of the ship, the Maersk Alabama, and the pirates have left but they are holding the captain hostage.
Twelve members of the 20-person crew are members of the Seafarers (SIU) and the ship’s officers are members of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) and Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P).
When the pirates, armed with AK-47s, boarded the 730-foot vessel, the unarmed crew locked themselves in an area of the ship that contains the ship’s steering gear, second officer Ken Quinn told CNN in a ship-to-shore phone call.
