Japan aids 790 RP seafarers in pirate-ridden waters

Some 790 Filipino seamen benefited greatly from Japanese anti-piracy escorting operations in the Gulf of Aden in July and August - the most of any nationality, the Japanese government said. The Japan Self-Defense Force had escorted 81 vessels with various national flags from July 28 to August 31, the Japanese Embassy said. Filipinos, who make up a third of the world's shipping manpower, are the most visible nationality in international vessels and are most prone to pirate abductions. In 2008, a total of 208 Filipino seafarers on board 17 vessels were kidnapped then released by pirates in Somalia. Piracy off the Somali coast and in the narrow Gulf of Aden has been a problem of Filipino seafarers in recent years. [See: Pirates of the Somalian waters: Curse of the Filipino seafarers] Last July, Japan passed a new law allowing the Japan Self-Defense Force to protect vessels from acts of piracy regardless of their nationality. "After about one month of operation, Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) released reports stating that vessels escorted by the operation are oil tankers, with some cargo ships, car carriers, container ships and LPG carriers. These vessels carried a total of 1,755 crew members, 45% of which were Filipinos," the embassy said. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) earlier said that at least 40,000 Filipino seafarers stand to benefit from this Japanese anti-piracy law. The DOLE said this new law dovetails with the wider efforts of the United Nations (UN) to ensure safe passage in maritime trading areas. "(The Japanese anti-piracy law), while aimed at protecting Japan-flagged vessels, would reinforce the safety and well-being of the more than 40,000 overseas Filipino seafarers currently manning the majority of Japan’s global merchant marine fleet," the DOLE said. The Japanese government said that of the crews in the ships escorted by Japanese forces, 790 were Filipinos, while 273 were Chinese, 176 were Indians, and 130 were Koreans. Other nationalities included Myanmar (87), Russia (75), Ukraine (58), Vietnam (52), Bangladesh (35), Japan (15), Greece, Croatia and Poland (14 each), Denmark (12), and Indonesia (10). "Japan's Maritime Bureau under MLIT is receiving applications from various maritime-related organizations/officers such as ship operators, ship owners/managers, etc. from around the world for escort assistance and safe passage of ships," it said. Vessels escorted by Japanese forces from July 28 to August 31 included 47 tankers, 24 cargo ships, four special cargo ships, three car carriers, three container ships, and one LPG carrier. By nationality of operator companies, 38 were from Japan, nine from Denmark, eight from China, six from Korea, four from Germany, three each from Singapore, India and Norway, two from the United States, and one each from Panama, Greece, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands and Monaco. By flag, 43 were from Panama, 14 from China, five each from Marshall and Liberia, three each from Norway and Korea, two from Singapore, and one each from Japan, Man Island, Antigua/Barbuda, Greece, Netherlands, Malta and Denmark. On Monday, 22 Filipino seafarers who have been abducted for more than 150 days in Somalia were freed after an alleged multi-million dollar ransom was paid. As of Wednesday, 22 other Filipino seafarers have been held hostage by Somali and Nigerian bandits. Other countries have also joined hands to patrol the waters near the Horn of Africa to prevent piracy in high waters. [See: Chinese navy plays Good Samaritan to RP vessel] Despite the risks, private companies still see the seas surrounding the Horn of Africa as a cost-effective means for moving goods with as many as 20,000 ships traveling these waters annually. - with Joseph Holandes Ubalde, GMANews.TV