London: An action group representing stakeholders from the entire shipping industry, from crews to owners, today presented a petition signed by nearly a million (920,000) people to the IMO and governments worldwide calling for real action to end Somali piracy.
Today is the UN-designated World Maritime Day and the when the petition was launched four months ago the target was gather half-a-million signatures by this date. It has far exceeded that figure and 'definitively proves that immediate action is needed,' say the petition organisers.
The anti-piracy campaign underthe slogan 'Enough is enough' is led by BIMCO, ICS, IFSMA, IMEC, IPTA, Intercargo, InterManager, International Group of P&I Clubs, INTERTANKO, ISF, ITF, IUMI and SIGTTO, and is being actively supported by national shipowners' associations and trade unions worldwide and by the ASF, ECSA, ICMA and ICSW.
At a time when 354 seafarers and 16 ships are being held hostage by pirates in Somalia, the campaign calls on governments to:
o Dedicate significant resources and work to find real solutions to the growing piracy problem
o Take immediate steps to secure the release and safe return of kidnapped seafarers to their families
o Work within the international community to secure a stable and peaceful future for Somalia and its people.
[23/09/10]
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