They say talk is cheap. Well in the fight against piracy, talk and not
much action is costing global trade an estimated US$7 to $12 billion a
year.
There is no lack of desire to eradicate piracy. Well, maybe there is
in Somalia and among maritime insurance companies, but governments,
shipowners, importers and exporters all want piracy to stop.
Yet several years after it began to seriously affect the major
Asia-Europe trade route, instead of combating piracy the problem is
escalating.
According to the Asian Shipowners’ Association, at May 23, 26 ships
and 522 seafarers were being held hostage off the coast of Somalia.
“It is high time for all governments, the United Nations and the
International Maritime Organisation to come together and put an end to
these criminal activities! We cannot tolerate nor allow this to
continue any longer,” said S. S. Teo, chairman of the ASF’s safe
navigation and environment committee.
Teo, who is also MD of Singapore-based Pacific International Lines,
was addressing the ASF’s annual meeting in Bali this week. He was
followed by other high ranking shipping executives all expressing
grave concern about rampant piracy in the Indian Ocean.
Their frustration is understandable, but the solution to ending the
scourge of the oceans is not as easy as many suspect. Raise the issue
at any gathering of shipping people and the suggested solutions range
from “blow them out of the water” to “let’s help install a democratic
government in Somalia”.
There is no internationally sanctioned death penalty for piracy, so
killing pirates has to be reserved for self-defence or for when
rescuing hostages.
Unfortunately the reward beats the risk. Somalia is one of the poorest
countries in the world and piracy is a way out of poverty. Even the
five pirates in the dock in South Korea are probably eating better
than ever before. Hope they like kimchi, because it will be their diet
for many years when they get sentenced next week.
Ultimately, a stable and well-run Somalia is the cure for piracy, but
in the 200 years before that happens, ships sailing through the Indian
Ocean need to carry armed guards empowered to use deadly force.
These guards should not be for the shipping company’s account, either.
They should be provided as an Anti Piracy Force, preferably by the
United Nations, and deployed on all vessels voyaging through the
western Indian Ocean.
Navy warships should scour the ocean for mother ships, arresting the
pirates and scuttling the vessels in deep water.
Only once piracy becomes more trouble than it is worth will the
practice lose its attractiveness.