ASF pushes for action on piracy
Hong Kong - The Asian Shipowners' Forum (ASF) expressed concern at the continuing pirate attacks on merchant ships and urged the world's navies to up their protection of ships passing through the Gulf of Aden.
Commented SS Teo, the SNEC chairman said at the ASF's 19th annual meeting in Hong Kong: "The situation has become a serious crisis, one that deeply affects seafarers and their families and the carriage of world trade, and while we are grateful for their protection, it would seem that the rules of engagement are not effective to stop and punish the attackers."
George Chao, the SILC chairman added: "The deliberately vague executive order issued by the President of the US is only adding to the confusion, by apparently seeking to restrict the ability of shipowners to free their seafarers from kidnap while not offering anything in return that would ensure the protection of our seafarers."
Kenneth Koo, the chairman of the 19th ASF urged the world's governments to seek a realistic and final solution to the crisis. "It is clear that any lasting solution will only be found on land, not at sea, but yet there seems to be very little that is being done on land in Somalia by the world's governments to stop the activities of these pirates.
The forum also discussed the issue of sustainability and carbon emissions reduction during the meeting. Members of the ASF gave their full commitment toward the protection of the environment again during the meeting, with particular focus on the reduction of GHG emissions.
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