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New piracy high risk area agreed
4 December 2008
Maritime unions and shipowners have reached an agreement to extend the piracy high risk area to cover the entire Gulf of Aden. The designated high risk area previously only covered part of the Gulf of Aden.
Members of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), reached the agreement following a full meeting of the negotiating body in Hong Kong on 21 November and subsequent discussions. They found that the previous zone failed to cover a number of piracy attacks that took place outside its parameters. One notable example is the case of the Sirius Star, which was hijacked off the coast of Kenya.
Brian Orrell, the ITF spokesperson said: “The recent increase in piracy in the Gulf of Aden, with further attacks happening outside the previously defined high risk area, has led us to agree the increase to cover the entire Gulf. In order to recognise the real threat to the seafarers sailing in this important shipping lane we have felt compelled to use the weight of the IBF to highlight the serious nature of this situation and to further protect the men and women who sail aboard ships in this region of the world.”
Ian Sherwood, the spokesperson for the employers group said: “Whilst, of course, we had hoped that the establishment of the previous high risk area and the continued increase in activity from naval forces in the area would have reduced the risk to shipping in the Gulf of Aden, it has become very apparent that further action needs to be taken and the IBF has therefore again decided to take action to try and ensure safe passage of shipping in the Gulf area.”
Earlier this week, ITF General Secretary David Cockroft issued a statement welcoming the United Nations Security Council’s unanimous passing of resolution 1848 on piracy on 2 December; it allows international navel forces to enter Somalia’s territory to stop acts of piracy.
Related press:
2 December 2008
IBF joint press release: IBF Extends 'High Risk Area' In The Gulf
Following a full meeting of the IBF in Hong Kong on Friday 21...
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