Somali piracy could be easily copied warns SSA

Singapore: The violent methods of Somali pirates could easily been copied in other parts of the world warns the Singapore Shipping Association. "As SSA, we are very concerned with the deteriorating situation in the Somali basin. In the absence of any firm response from the United Nations, the Somali methods of hijack and violent kidnapping can be easily emulated by others elsewhere," SS Teo president of SSA told a piracy seminar in Singapore. Teo's own company Pacific International Lines had one of its containerships, Kota Wajar, was held by Somali pirates for 75 days after it was hijacked on October 15. He described the relative ease with which pirates could extort and escape with millions of dollars as "unimaginable in the modern day and age". SSA said the current level of response to the piracy situation was simply "insufficient". "It is vitally important that all governments, at the very highest level, become more engaged in finding a long term solution to this crisis," Teo said. [09/02/10]