Asian shipowners hit out over inaction on pirate attacks

Asian shipowners groups, including associations in Hong Kong, Singapore and Southeast Asia, have expressed outrage at the lack of government action following further pirate attacks.

They made their comments after a meeting on Friday of executives from the Asian Shipowers' Forum, which represents 13 shipowner groups in the region, including the mainland, Australia and India. The meeting of the forum's safe navigation committee also gave tacit support to owners using onboard armed guards to protect vessels and crew.

Expressing the group's rage, committee chairman Teo Siong Seng said: 'The current situation, where a handful of pirates in open skiffs can hold the world's economy hostage, is completely unacceptable - as responsible owners and managers, we must take all necessary steps to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our seafarers.'

Representatives at Friday's meeting said 'all governments must act decisively and expeditiously to eradicate piracy and attacks on ships. The representatives thought the use of naval forces was not a long-term sustainable solution.

Arthur Bowring, manging director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association said: 'Shipowners using private armed guards in the past tended to be very quiet about it for many reasons, one being that it was not recommended by industry associations and, therefore, also by governments.'

He added: 'The point was to get the use of private armed guards recognised as an essential issue - this has now been done, and submissions made by governments. Pressure is being kept up by recognising and accepting that private armed guards are becoming an option of choice for many shipowners.'

Piracy is estimated to cost the global economy about US$12 billion. Teo, who is head of Singapore container shipping carrier Pacific International Lines and Hong Kong-listed container box maker Singamas Holdings, added: 'Not only are seafarers being tortured and murdered, civilians and children are being targeted as well. The situation is increasingly untenable.'