A new plan to hunt down Somali pirates is brewing with the release of a new, international anti-piracy plan. Released by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and its international partners on Feb. 3, the plan will set international standards on combating and dealing with piracy.
“Underlying our efforts to achieve these objectives will be the need to engage at the political level to bring about a solution to the Somali problem and thus facilitate and expedite the release of the seafarers and any other persons held hostage,” IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos said, according to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) press release.
“There should be no respite in our efforts to strengthen the protection of persons, ships, and cargoes in piracy-affected areas,” he said.
The plan aims to increase political pressure for the release of hostages held by pirates, enhance coordination between international navies, and “Promote anti-piracy coordination and co-operation procedures between and among states, regions, organizations, and industry,” states an IMO report.
It will also help states around the world to “deter, interdict, and bring to justice those who commit acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships,” and try to provide better care for hostages and their families.
However, Yury Fedotov, executive director of UNODC, cautioned that results will not be immediate. “It is also clear that this solution is some years off and will require concerted and coordinated international effort,” he said in a press release.
To accomplish its goals the IMO will set up a new coast guard network for West and central African states. This will include helping countries in the region develop “capacities to perform coast guard functions, including maritime law enforcement and suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea,” according to the IMO report.
It will also aim to develop a Djibouti Regional Training Center (DRTC) in cooperation with the European Union and the government of Djibouti.
The IMO will also work with the UNODC and others to “assist in the review of existing national legislation in the Djibouti code of conduct signatory states and other IMO member states to ensure the development of robust legal frameworks for suppressing piracy,” states the report.
Several countries signed onto a code of conduct, including Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Maldives. A long list of African countries also agreed to the establishment of a regional coast guard network in West and central Africa.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlined the impact of international piracy, during t a meeting at IMO headquarters in London. He stated, “As we gather here, 31 ships with more than 700 people are being held hostage. Moreover, ransom payments adding up to hundreds of millions of dollars have created a ‘pirate economy’ in some areas of Somalia that make them more resistant to efforts to develop alternative livelihoods,” according to a UNODC press release.
“Underlying our efforts to achieve these objectives will be the need to engage at the political level to bring about a solution to the Somali problem and thus facilitate and expedite the release of the seafarers and any other persons held hostage,” IMO Secretary-General Efthimios Mitropoulos said, according to a United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) press release.
“There should be no respite in our efforts to strengthen the protection of persons, ships, and cargoes in piracy-affected areas,” he said.
The plan aims to increase political pressure for the release of hostages held by pirates, enhance coordination between international navies, and “Promote anti-piracy coordination and co-operation procedures between and among states, regions, organizations, and industry,” states an IMO report.
It will also help states around the world to “deter, interdict, and bring to justice those who commit acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships,” and try to provide better care for hostages and their families.
However, Yury Fedotov, executive director of UNODC, cautioned that results will not be immediate. “It is also clear that this solution is some years off and will require concerted and coordinated international effort,” he said in a press release.
To accomplish its goals the IMO will set up a new coast guard network for West and central African states. This will include helping countries in the region develop “capacities to perform coast guard functions, including maritime law enforcement and suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships, particularly in the Gulf of Guinea,” according to the IMO report.
It will also aim to develop a Djibouti Regional Training Center (DRTC) in cooperation with the European Union and the government of Djibouti.
The IMO will also work with the UNODC and others to “assist in the review of existing national legislation in the Djibouti code of conduct signatory states and other IMO member states to ensure the development of robust legal frameworks for suppressing piracy,” states the report.
Several countries signed onto a code of conduct, including Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, and Maldives. A long list of African countries also agreed to the establishment of a regional coast guard network in West and central Africa.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlined the impact of international piracy, during t a meeting at IMO headquarters in London. He stated, “As we gather here, 31 ships with more than 700 people are being held hostage. Moreover, ransom payments adding up to hundreds of millions of dollars have created a ‘pirate economy’ in some areas of Somalia that make them more resistant to efforts to develop alternative livelihoods,” according to a UNODC press release.
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