The world’s three
biggest flag states, many of the world's biggest shipowner companies, major
shipping associations, regional companies from Ukraine to Nigeria and the World
Economic Forum have now joined the support for the Gulf of Guinea Declaration
on Suppression of Piracy.
The declaration
was drafted on 17 May by a group of shipowners convened by BIMCO with the aim
to speak plainly about the piracy problem in the Gulf of Guinea and get all the
stakeholders involved to address the real problems with effective solutions to
protect seafarers.
“As we watch the
number of signatures to the Gulf of Guinea Declaration on Suppression of Piracy
grow, so does our hope that seafarers can look forward to no longer fearing for
their lives when doing their job,” says BIMCO’s Secretary General & CEO,
David Loosley.
“Keeping people safe whilst keeping goods moving is an obligation”
World Economic
Forum: “Keeping people safe whilst keeping goods moving is an obligation”
Now, signatures
are approaching 350 - currently counting 342. The World Economic Forum is one
of the organisations that has signed the declaration, stressing the obligation
for leaders to keep people and goods moving safely.
“Supply system
resilience is directly impacted by maritime activities with seafarers playing a
vital role enabling global trade. Collaboration across the private and public
sector is imperative for assuring the safety, well-being and human rights of
those responsible for moving the essential goods and food we all rely on,” says
Margi Van Gogh, World Economic Forum, Head of Supply Chain & Transport.
“Keeping people
and goods moving safely is an obligation for leaders across the value chain and
requires governments and the private sector to act decisively to protect
seafarers. The Forum applauds all collective action to protect the safety, and
assure the wellbeing of our seafarers, and indeed all essential transport
workers serving us across the globe,” Van Gogh adds.
Piracy problem must be
recognised
MSC and Liberian
International Ship & Corporate Registry: Piracy problem must be recognised
Global container
shipping group, MSC and The Liberian International Ship & Corporate
Registry are also among those supporting the declaration and its purpose.
“Piracy in the
Gulf of Guinea affects seafarers of many nationalities and companies from all
over the world. Robust involvement in counter piracy and associated law
enforcement by international maritime forces, working side by side with local
forces, is essential to addressing this situation. Only through international
cooperation can we create the necessary deterrent against pirate operations at
sea, both near and far from the camps in the Niger Delta,” says Bud Darr,
Executive Vice President, Maritime Policy and Government Affairs, MSC.
We must
see an end to these crimes
“By signing the
declaration, we all say out loud that there continues to be a serious problem
and that we must see an end to these crimes,” Darr adds.
BIMCO strongly
encourages shipping companies and other stakeholders to join the biggest flag
states and some of the biggest shipowners in the world in the steadily growing
call for change in the Gulf of Guinea by becoming a signatory to the Gulf of
Guinea Declaration on Suppression of Piracy |