Send Warships to Fight Pirates, Urges Union

Royal Navy escorts should be sent to the world's most dangerous shipping lanes to protect British commercial vessels from the increasing the threat of piracy, the marine officers' union, Numast, has warned the government.

The plea follows release of the latest figures from the London-based International Maritime Bureau (IMB) which reveal more than 100 attacks on merchant ships in the first three months this year - an 18% rise over the same period last year.

Two of the attacks were on UK-flagged ships and three were on UK-controlled or managed vessels. In another incident, British officers on board an Isle of Man-registered supply ship were seized at gunpoint off the coast of Nigeria. They were held hostage and manhandled and had their personal possessions stolen before a ransom was finally paid.

A Numast spokesman said yesterday that there had been "supportive noises" from ministers but no commitments to base warships in high risk areas such as the Malacca Straits, between Malaysia and Indonesia, and off the Horn of Africa. The navy has in the past said a shortage of resources is preventing it sending ships on patrol.

"We keep on trying to clarify what the position is for the navy, what they can do and what are the rules of engagement," the Numast spokesman said. "Attacks are running at such a level they pose a direct threat to world trade.

"We know the Japanese government is considering sending warships to the Malacca Straits to protect its national vessels. The problem is Malaysia and Indonesia have such long coastlines."

After Numast's annual conference in Harrogate this month, Brian Orrell, the general secretary, declared: "These statistics demonstrate that owners, flag states and coastal authorities are failing to treat this dreadful problem with the priority it deserves.

"It is essential effective action is taken to provide proper protection to seafarers. Piracy [should be put] back into the history books, where it ought to be in the 21st century."

The IMB figures recorded that 145 seafarers were killed, assaulted, kidnapped or missing in the first three months of this year in attacks by pirates. Guns were used in 22 incidents and knives in 39.

Other dangerous coastlines include those of Nigeria, Bangladesh and India. Indonesia reported the most attacks. "Avoid anchoring along the Indonesian coast of the [Malacca] Straits," the IMB websites notes. "Coast near Aceh is particularly risky for hijackings."

Somalian waters should be avoided at all costs, the bureau recommends. "Ships not making scheduled calls to ports in these areas should keep at least 75 miles from the coast. Use of radio communications in these waters should be kept to a minimum."

The organisation has backed the use of high-voltage electric fences to prevent pirates clambering aboard. A Dutch-made device, which delivers a 9,000-volt shock, is designed to create an "impenetrable barrier of safety" around a vessel.

"Some seafarers want personal weapons to protect themselves," the Numast official said. "We believe the Royal Navy should return to its historic role, as it did in the 17th and 18th century, protecting British ships from pirates.

A Department for Transport spokesman said: "The UK actively participated in international discussions with the International Maritime Organisation to address the issue of piracy and armed robbery at sea. In November 2002 the UK government issued a marine guidance note to all UK seafarers through Numast.

"This sets out measures that British merchant ships can take to avoid and deter acts of piracy."