Piracy petition presented to IMO

23 September 2010 IMO file photo

 

Mr. David Cockroft, General Secretary of the ITF, supported by shipping industry representatives, has presented a petition signed by 930,406 people to Secretary-General Mitropoulos, calling for Governments to do everything possible to protect the thousands of seafarers and the hundreds of ships at risk of attack by pirates by:

• dedicating significant resources and concerted efforts to find real solutions to the growing piracy problem;

• taking immediate steps to secure the release and safe return of kidnapped seafarers to their families;

• working within the international community to secure a stable and peaceful future for Somalia and its people.

Mr. Mitropoulos said, “IMO shares the deep concern of seafarers, industry and the broader community with regard to piracy and I know I can speak for the Organization’s entire membership and its partners in stating that it is our strong collective wish to see it eradicated”.

Mr. Mitropoulos added that the petition would significantly support the objectives identified by IMO with regard to the World Maritime Day theme for 2011, which will be “Piracy: orchestrating the response”.

Island Overseas Transport Corporation supported the said petition as one of the signatories.

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Source: IMO News Issue 4 2010