Shipping Organizations Demand Single Piracy Command

TOP shipping organisations have come together to demand a single command structure for naval forces countering piracy in the Gulf of Aden, possibly under the auspices of the United Nations. 
The call was contained in a statement made by International Chamber of Shipping marine director Peter Hinchliffe to a meeting of the maritime safety committee of the International Maritime Organization in London yesterday. 
According to the ICS, it was also speaking on behalf of BIMCO, Intercargo, Intertanko, the International Group of P&I Clubs, the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the International Parcel Tankers Association and the Oil Companies International Marine Forum. 
Mr Hinchliffe told the meeting: “It is clear that some effort to co-ordinate the command and control of deployed warships has been made but it is our view that the assets will never be employed to maximum effect until a single command structure exists. It is for consideration that the adoption of a United Nations force structure may be the only effective way to achieve this.”