Group urges seamen to train in fighting pirates
MARK JOSEPH H. UBALDE, GMANews.TV
MANILA, Philippines - Seamen passing through pirate-prone areas need not become vulnerable to sea bandits if they undergo proper training in dealing with piracy, a group of Filipino seamen said.
According to Engineer Nelson Ramirez, president of the United Filipino Seafarers, robberies in high seas are common, and thus seafarers should know how to defend themselves from pirate attacks.
“Dadaan at dadaan sila d’yan (Most of them will undergo this ordeal eventually)," said Ramirez in a recent interview with GMANews.TV.
He said all ship officials are required to take the ship security officer training, while crew members should undergo the ship security awareness program to avoid being taken over by pirates, who are often equipped with faster boats.
Ramirez said that because international law prohibits the carrying of guns in commercial vessels, ship captains are trained to shoot pirates with a fire hose.
Last July, the Associated Press (AP) cited a report from the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) that pirate attacks worldwide grew 19 percent from May to April compared to the January to March period.
The report said that according to IMB, piracy incidents grew from 52 to 62, due to attacks in Somalia and Nigeria.
Though the second quarter figure was lower than the 85 attacks recorded in the same period last year, and that attacks on the first half of 2008 fell to 114 from last year's 126, the IMB believed that many attacks were not reported due to the safety concerns of seafarers.
The IMB, a non-profit organization fighting against all types of maritime crime and malpractice, said the “frequency and level of violence directed at seafarers is cause for alarm," and that “the abduction of crew and the increasing use of automatic weapons remain unacceptable."
The AP said that based on 2008 IMB’s report, Africa remained the world’s top piracy hotspot, with 24 attacks in Somalia and 18 in Nigeria. Indonesia ranked third on the list with 13 incidents of mostly low-level theft.
AP said violence was pronounced in Somalia, where pirates were often armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and automatic weapons.
Attacks were also recorded by IMB in Tanzania, Bangladesh, and India, with seven each this year, and in Malaysia with six.
The IMB said sea bandits boarded 71 vessels this year, and hijacked 12, with a total of 190 crew members taken as hostage. Seven of these crew members were killed, while another seven were missing and presumed dead.
The IMB said that in 2006, there were 239 attacks in high seas where 77 crew members were kidnapped and 188 were taken hostage. Fifteen of the pirate attacks resulted in murder.
In 2007, the IMB said the attacks rose by 10 percent to 263 attacks, while there was a 35 percent increase on reported attacks involving guns.
Last Saturday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that nine more Filipino seafarers were abducted off the coast of Somalia.
Esteban Conejos Jr, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, said the Filipinos were part of the 13-man crew of the German-owned, Antigua and Barbuda-flagged freighter M/T BBC Trinidad.
The said freighter ship was hijacked by suspected Somali pirates on August 21, the same day when chemical tanker MT Irene, a Panama-flagged and operated by Japan ’s Koyo Company, was hijacked with 19 crewmen including 15 Filipino seamen.
On Aug. 19, suspected Somali pirates also seized MT Bunga Melati 2 with 10 Filipino seamen, while 20 other Filipino seafarers were held captives by the pirates when they commandeered MV Stella Maris on July 27.
“The DFA has instructed embassies in Berlin and Nairobi to coordinate with ship owners, international maritime authorities and host government, in the efforts to secure the safe and speedy release of the crew members," Conejos said.
Ramirez said the Gulf of Aden is a hotspot for pirates because it serves as highway for various vessels particularly container ships, which are easier for pirates to climb.
Following the August 19 hijacking, the IMB warned all ships crossing the Gulf of Aden to look out for two suspicious vessels believed to be used in piracy.
The IMB advised ship officers to "maintain a strict visual and radar watch" when passing through the Gulf of Aden. - GMANews.TV
MANILA, Philippines - Seamen passing through pirate-prone areas need not become vulnerable to sea bandits if they undergo proper training in dealing with piracy, a group of Filipino seamen said.
According to Engineer Nelson Ramirez, president of the United Filipino Seafarers, robberies in high seas are common, and thus seafarers should know how to defend themselves from pirate attacks.
“Dadaan at dadaan sila d’yan (Most of them will undergo this ordeal eventually)," said Ramirez in a recent interview with GMANews.TV.
He said all ship officials are required to take the ship security officer training, while crew members should undergo the ship security awareness program to avoid being taken over by pirates, who are often equipped with faster boats.
Ramirez said that because international law prohibits the carrying of guns in commercial vessels, ship captains are trained to shoot pirates with a fire hose.
Last July, the Associated Press (AP) cited a report from the International Chamber of Commerce’s International Maritime Bureau (IMB) that pirate attacks worldwide grew 19 percent from May to April compared to the January to March period.
The report said that according to IMB, piracy incidents grew from 52 to 62, due to attacks in Somalia and Nigeria.
Though the second quarter figure was lower than the 85 attacks recorded in the same period last year, and that attacks on the first half of 2008 fell to 114 from last year's 126, the IMB believed that many attacks were not reported due to the safety concerns of seafarers.
The IMB, a non-profit organization fighting against all types of maritime crime and malpractice, said the “frequency and level of violence directed at seafarers is cause for alarm," and that “the abduction of crew and the increasing use of automatic weapons remain unacceptable."
The AP said that based on 2008 IMB’s report, Africa remained the world’s top piracy hotspot, with 24 attacks in Somalia and 18 in Nigeria. Indonesia ranked third on the list with 13 incidents of mostly low-level theft.
AP said violence was pronounced in Somalia, where pirates were often armed with rocket-propelled grenade launchers and automatic weapons.
Attacks were also recorded by IMB in Tanzania, Bangladesh, and India, with seven each this year, and in Malaysia with six.
The IMB said sea bandits boarded 71 vessels this year, and hijacked 12, with a total of 190 crew members taken as hostage. Seven of these crew members were killed, while another seven were missing and presumed dead.
The IMB said that in 2006, there were 239 attacks in high seas where 77 crew members were kidnapped and 188 were taken hostage. Fifteen of the pirate attacks resulted in murder.
In 2007, the IMB said the attacks rose by 10 percent to 263 attacks, while there was a 35 percent increase on reported attacks involving guns.
Last Saturday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that nine more Filipino seafarers were abducted off the coast of Somalia.
Esteban Conejos Jr, DFA undersecretary for migrant workers affairs, said the Filipinos were part of the 13-man crew of the German-owned, Antigua and Barbuda-flagged freighter M/T BBC Trinidad.
The said freighter ship was hijacked by suspected Somali pirates on August 21, the same day when chemical tanker MT Irene, a Panama-flagged and operated by Japan ’s Koyo Company, was hijacked with 19 crewmen including 15 Filipino seamen.
On Aug. 19, suspected Somali pirates also seized MT Bunga Melati 2 with 10 Filipino seamen, while 20 other Filipino seafarers were held captives by the pirates when they commandeered MV Stella Maris on July 27.
“The DFA has instructed embassies in Berlin and Nairobi to coordinate with ship owners, international maritime authorities and host government, in the efforts to secure the safe and speedy release of the crew members," Conejos said.
Ramirez said the Gulf of Aden is a hotspot for pirates because it serves as highway for various vessels particularly container ships, which are easier for pirates to climb.
Following the August 19 hijacking, the IMB warned all ships crossing the Gulf of Aden to look out for two suspicious vessels believed to be used in piracy.
The IMB advised ship officers to "maintain a strict visual and radar watch" when passing through the Gulf of Aden. - GMANews.TV
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