South Asian nations seek total elimination of piracy
November 18th, 2011 - 9:47 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Nov 18 (IANS) Maritime nations of Asia Friday want piracy eliminated from the Indian Ocean waters, even as it was projected that the cost of tackling Somali pirates ran into nearly $12 billion.
“Total eradication of piracy is a must and not just controlling it,” Sri Lankan Coast Guard Director General Rear Admiral Daya Dharmapriya said here at a seminar on piracy organised by newly-formed Oceans Beyond Piracy - India (OBP-I), a think tank.
An OBP-I study on costs incurred by businesses and nations due to piracy in the region said that in 2010 $7 to $12 billion was spent, including for payment of ransom, insurance premium, re-routing of cargo ships, security equipment, naval operations and cost to regional economies.
The OBP-I report said the projected costs on court cases to try the apprehended pirates and imprisoning them last year was over $31 million.
Pointing out that there were multiple inter-governmental organisations working to fight maritime piracy, the total money spent by all of them was estimated at $24.5 million.
“There is an international mafia which is operating and we must find out who is it,” Dharmapriya said.
Pressing for providing a more robust rules of engagement for the naval and coast guard ships fighting pirates in the Arabian sea, where piracy has seen an upward swing, he said: “A comprehensive air surveillance is needed for which the Indian Navy can play a major role.”
Bangladesh Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Maritime Cell head Rear Admiral (retired) Khurshed Alam slammed the International Maritime Board (IMB), which monitors piracy, for not giving out “the true picture” about his country.
He said Bangladesh was listed as a high-risk nation since 1982, even though there has been no incident of piracy close to its coast in recent years.
He said around 2,400 cargo ships called on ports in Bangladesh annually and there had been no major incident of piracy.
Maldives Deputy High Commissioner Khadeeja Ibrahim, in her address, said piracy was “a grave concern” in the Indian Ocean region.
“To tackle the escalation of piracy, there is need for more coordination among all countries of the region.”
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- India, Mauritius to join hands to combat piracy: Patil - Apr 25, 2011
- Indian Navy saves Chinese ship from pirates (Roundup) - May 06, 2011
- Indian Govt. mulling idea of having armed guards on merchant ships - Mar 15, 2011
- Indian Navy thwarts pirate attack; rescues Chinese vessel, crew (Lead, with Images) - May 06, 2011
- Patrol frequency in Indian waters increased to thwart Somali pirates - Mar 19, 2011
- UN chief appalled by Somali pirates' killing of Americans - Feb 23, 2011
- Indian Ocean Rim grouping to jointly combat piracy menace (Lead) - Nov 15, 2011
- Indian warships wrap up China visit - Jun 19, 2012
- Trying to get 29 Indians freed from pirates: Minister - Jun 25, 2011
- Cargo ships may have armed guards to fight pirates - Mar 15, 2011
- Bangladeshi ship hijacked in Arabian Sea - Dec 06, 2010
Tags: air surveillance, arabian sea, cargo ships, coast guard ships, fighting pirates, foreign affairs ministry, governmental organisations, indian navy, insurance premium, maritime board, maritime nations, maritime piracy, nations of asia, ocean waters, ransom insurance, rear admiral, regional economies, somali pirates, south asian nations, upward swing