Container lines Maersk, MSC and CMA CGM have agreed to co-operate to fight piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.
In a joint statement, the three said: “Piracy continues to be a problem for the shipping industry and if we want to address it effectively, we as ship owners must cooperate.”
Actions include information exchange on safety measures, piracy policies and procedures as well as coordination to ensure the issue is addressed with all relevant stakeholders.
“Following the Anti-Piracy Best Management Practice is an important step in preventing hijackings and we fully support the use and further development of the BMP.
“The root causes of this problem cannot be addressed overnight. Therefore, it is imperative that the naval forces have a strong and dynamic mandate to match the constantly changing situation in the area. It is also vital that the acts of piracy do not go unpunished, which is why appropriate legal frameworks for prosecuting pirates are needed,” they said.
