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Giorgi calls for united effort to piracy and seafarer criminalisation
Steve Matthews, Riga - 水曜日 13 5月 2009
“If these issues are not addressed urgently they could have a serious impact on the ability of the industry to recruit and retain seafarers,” Roberto Giorgi, president of V.Ships and InterManager told the Informa European Manning and Training Conference being held in Riga, Latvia.
“There is a need for a more united and co-ordinated shipping industry response to get these issues raised at the highest levels.”
Mr Giorgi told Lloyd’s List that industry organisations should have a direct voice at the United Nations, not just via the International Maritime Organisation, to stress the urgency of the situation and protect the interests and lives of seafarers, especially with regard to the recent escalation of piracy incidents linked to Somalia. “Collectively the industry has a lot of muscle if it is united, because the world’s economy depends on it.
Currently there is no uniformity of approach by governments towards piracy. It is a crime against humanity and should be treated as such.”
He told the conference that V.Ships conducts robust risk assessments for all ships due to pass through areas subject to piracy and advises owners on whether ships should be re-routed or employ security guards or take other measures.
“The main priority is to protect the crew onboard.”
On criminalisation, Mr Giorgi said: “We should be 100% behind seafarers who are unfairly criminalised and we need to educate regulators. The Hebei Spirit had one of our best captains and despite pro-active management and the best lawyers we still have this problem of two good seafarers being detained in South Korea.”
He said that if leading industry organisations were to declare South Korean ports unsafe for tankers, it would increase pressure for a resolution, although he added that such co-ordinated action was unlikely.
Mr Giorgi confirmed that efforts were continuing to secure the release from South Korea of the two crew members pending court decisions and a range of guarantees are being offered to authorities there. However, he was not confident of success due to political factors.
“In present circumstances I would not advise my children to go to sea,” he said.
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