THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), representing 80 per cent of the world's merchant fleet, says it hears too much about what governments want to do about cutting carbon emissions, but not enough about what they will do to suppress piracy off Somalia.

    "It is ironic that the world has just marked the anniversary of the tragic events of 9/11, following which very radical measures were taken, such as the IMO ISPS Code, to reduce the possibility that shipping might be used by terrorists to attack society at large - measures that have cost the shipping industry billions," said the ICS statement.

    "However, for all the talk of maritime security during the last 10 years, governments have so far failed to protect shipping, and the smooth flow of world trade, from being literally held to ransom by Somali criminals."

    Meeting in London, the board of directors of the ICS also debated the contentious issues of CO2 regulation and the adoption of the IMO Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) applicable to newbuilds, reported London's Containerisation International.

    The ICS noted that since hijacking of merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean started three years ago over 3,000 seafarers have been kidnapped on ships held for ransom by Somali-based pirates.

    The ICS board described the currently military response as a "sticking plaster on a gaping wound" and urged governments to "develop a comprehensive military strategy that will have decisive impact".

    There are 16 ships and an estimated 350 seafarers held hostage aboard pirated vessels off the coast of Somalia as observers expect to see a renewal of attacks now that the monsoon seas have abated.

(source:http://www.shippingonline.cn/news/newsList.asp?classname=Newsm)