Int'l anti-piracy chief to talk on rescuing hostaged PHL seamen

The chief of a multi-national anti-piracy task force is coming to Manila next week to brief Philippine officials on the status of 119 Filipino sailors being held hostage off Somalia and offer best management practices to shipowners to thwart attacks by armed brigands in the open sea. Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) Chief of Staff Captain Chris Chambers will deliver a presentation on the piracy situation and the CMF’s anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin on January 24 at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Expected to attend are representatives from shipping companies, seafarers and manning agencies, concerned government agencies, and other stakeholders in the maritime industry. “Chambers’ visit aims to update the maritime industry and key government stakeholders of the anti-piracy activities in the Somali Basin and the Gulf of Aden, as well as highlight the need to train seafarers and remind shipowners on…pre-emptive measure to repel piracy attacks," a Foreign Affairs statement said. Combined Maritime Forces Chambers will discuss the CMF’s security operations and command, the operations of the Combined Task Force (CTF) 151, and its counter-piracy campaign plan. The CMF is stationed in Manama, Bahrain. Established in January 2009, the multinational CTF 151 is conducting counter-piracy operations under a mission-based mandate throughout the CMF area of responsibility to actively deter, disrupt, and suppress piracy to protect global maritime security, and secure freedom of navigation for the benefit of all nations. It was set up in response to piracy attacks in shipping lanes off the coast of Somalia. It operates in the Gulf of Aden and off the eastern coast of Somalia covering an area of approximately 1.1 million square miles. Chambers will also update the participants on piracy activities in the Gulf of Aden and the Somali Basin, as well as the presence of counter-piracy forces in the area. He will also share maritime industry best management practices and the CMF’s plans and future operations. Problems in protecting PHL seafarers Philippine officials have been in a dilemma on how to provide protection to the seafarers due to the rapid mobility of the seamen and the government’s inability to track their destination. Currently, there are 119 seafarers aboard 11 vessels in captivity by Somali pirates. A ban proposed by the Manila has met strong opposition from local seafarers’ groups, saying this policy would cost them their jobs and force shipping companies to turn to other nations for manpower. The Philippines is the world’s leading supplier of ship crew with over 350,000 sailors, or about a fifth of the world’s seafarers, manning oil tankers, luxury liners and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to piracy attacks. As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate with nor pay ransom to kidnappers, but gives ship owners the free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors. During his visit to Manila, Chambers will also pay courtesy calls on Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo, Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral Alexander Pama and Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo. – MRT/TJD, GMANews.TV