BIMCO Press Release on Piracy Debate at Executive Committee

01.12.09

At the BIMCO Executive Committee Meeting held at BIMCO House on 26 November 2009 the issue of Piracy off the coast of Somalia was discussed at length by the members. BIMCO reiterates the recent statement made to the IMO General Assembly by the Round Table of International Shipping Associations that the priority remains to ensure that Governments remain committed and, recognise their obligation to provide the protection needed by shipping through appropriate strategies and the presence of adequate naval assets. Now that the threat of piracy has expanded far into the Indian Ocean, BIMCO will reinforce this position whenever, and wherever, it can.

BIMCO has been exploring a range of options beyond those currently in hand but has decided that any future strategic options must involve Governments and their navies and that all future options must be established through those navies involved as primus inter pares, whatever potential solutions are identified. BIMCO will continue therefore to explore all options and is interested in speaking to all and any stake holder involved in addressing potential solutions.

BIMCO cannot however progress concrete options until nation states involved identify and implement the necessary legal framework to arrest and prosecute pirates successfully. BIMCO remains of the position that UNCLOS and SUA 1988 provide all the necessary instruments for Governments to enact appropriate legislation and implement and enforce it - as this in turn will go a long way to deter piracy.

BIMCO supports the development of regional coast guards of established littoral states with the necessary maritime legal infrastructure and administration. Support for capacity building in the form of training and infrastructure may then be possible, with the assistance of the navies of the international community.

In the short term the Executive Committee approved the further development of AVRA, BIMCO’s voyage risk service launched in early October, which provides owners and operators with a pre-planning tool to enhance crew, ship and cargo safety and security through an automated web based service. AVRA analyses the risk to a particular vessel across the spectrum of illegal maritime activities, from corruption and theft in ports, through stowaways and drug risk, to piracy. It is attracting significant interest from both shipping lines and underwriters giving owners and operators access to the same information and quality of information as that provided to insurers; whilst adding clarity and transparency to the voyage risk assessment process. This may in the future give owners leverage in negotiating insurance premiums and will also provide owners with important information and considerations in future contract negotiations.

Source: BIMCO