The hugely successful and influential Save Our Seafarers organisation has announced that its campaign of writing to world governments is to end as they enter a new phase of the struggle against piracy. The organisation is set to shift its emphasis and the campaign which prompted massive media interest in maritime piracy and which generated over 33,000 letters now appears to have run its course.
The hugely successful and influential Save Our Seafarers organisation has announced that its campaign of writing to world governments is to end as they enter a new phase of the struggle against piracy. The organisation is set to shift its emphasis and the campaign which prompted massive media interest in maritime piracy and which generated over 33,000 letters now appears to have run its course.
According to a press release, public and political awareness and interest in the piracy problem has soared around the world and numerous governments have responded very positively to the SOS calls for action. Massive resources have been poured into combating piracy, and it is felt that the SOS campaign has played a vital role in mobilising opinion and the force to make positive change happen.
According to their statement, these efforts from the industry, SOS member organisations and the naval forces have produced a dramatic reduction in attacks on shipping and as a consequence, the number of hostages being held is down to about a quarter of the number held two years ago – although every seafarer being held against their will by criminal extortionists is one too many.
It is now felt that these changing circumstances need to be reflected in a new stance, and so the SOS campaign is set to be scaled back and will now evolve. The ‘letter to government’ feature of the website will be removed this month and the campaign organisers have expressed gratitude to each and every person who have sent a letter. Visitors will, however, still able to register their support by adding names to the on-site list.
Despite the changes, the fight against Somali piracy is by no means over and ship operators, the shipping industry and the naval forces are all maintaining their levels of watchfulness, and preparing and training for possible pirate attacks.
Ultimately the SaveOurSeafarers news, social media and video channels will stay live but with a slightly renewed focus.
Shiptalk congratulates the campaign for having had a marked effect – but it does appear to be unfortunate that SOS does not recognise the effect of seafarers and indeed private security on piracy. It is all well and good to send letters to your government, and we are sure it has had a great effect. However, the real progress has come out at sea – masters, officers and crew have smartened up – lessons have been learned, and steps have been taken to make ships less vulnerable. Then there are the armed guards – the SOS campaign is funded by shipping companies, so there has been a natural tendency to shy away from seeing security teams as a solution. However in air brushing them from the podium as the plaudits are handed out it all seems a little too contrived.
No-one ever wanted to see commercial vessels with weapons onboard – but sadly without the protection and deterrent value of armed guards there is no way the pirates would have gone anywhere. We wholeheartedly support SOS and the great work they have done – but let’s get real, it is the bullets whistling in the wind and splashing in the water which have made the pirates turn tail and retreat. In the longterm the letters to government and the political will to truly address the ills ashore which provoke piracy will take effect – but let’s not start patting ourselves on the back and think that by pressing SEND on a website we ended piracy.
Let us see what this new era brings, and hopefully the pirates won’t be emboldened, nor the governments tempted to cut their naval presence.
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