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Launch of "The Human Cost of Somali Piracy Study"
The latest Oceans Beyond Piracy Study named "The Human Cost of Somali Piracy" will be launched at Chatham House in London on June 6.
The new study notes that the economic cost of piracy is now well-known, but it makes clear that the extent of the human cost is much less well-known and understood. Download the study
Latest News (updated May 12):
The Economics of Piracy: Pirate Ransoms & Livelihoods off the Coast of Somalia
Geopolicity has just released The Economics of Piracy. The report looks at the economic and business models of piracy, and appropriately points to the importance of tracking the piracy value chain, financial investments into piracy, and the profits earned through piracy. The report can be found here.
High-Level Counter-Piracy Conference Held in Dubai
On April 18-19, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs and DP World hosted a high-level conference called 'Global Challenge, Regional Responses: Forging a Common Approach to Maritime Piracy'. The final declaration calls for a comprehensive solution and encourages regional organizations to establish coast guards and other counter-piracy instruments. In another statement, the shipping industry lists four measures (increased naval presence, surveillance of motherships, closer monitoring of pirate activity and timely reporting by shipowners and operators) as ways to urgently combat piracy. The conference website also contains a number of briefing papers covering a wide range of issues related to counter-piracy.
UNSC 1976 Adopted on April 11
On April 11, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1976, the 10th resolution to address piracy off the coast of Somalia since 2008 (the other nine can be found here). The Security Council emphasizes the plight of the hundreds of seafarers who are currently being held hostage by Somali pirates and expresses 'serious concern at the inhuman conditions hostages face' while being held by pirates.
A central element of Resolution 1976 is the call for a 'comprehensive strategy' which was proposed in the so-called 'Jack Lang Report' from January 25, 2011. In particular, the Security Council is considering establishing two courts specialized in trying suspected pirates inside Somalia as well as a similar court located outside Somalia as laid out in the Jack Lang Report. The Security Council requests the UN Secretary General to look closer into the possibility of establishing such courts and to report back to the Security Council within two months of the adoption of Resolution 1976.
'Counter Piracy off Somalia; A Case for Applying the Comprehensive Approach Stategy?' by CDR Dan B. Termansen
Commander Dan B. Termansen has authored a paper submitted to the Naval War College on January 3, 2011 where he argues that a comprehensive approach is required to counter piracy and address its root causes in Somalia.
'The Sea Gangsters' - a BBC radio program by Tom Mangold
In a recent radio program, BBC's Tom Mangold takes a closer look at Somali pirates, or, as he calls them: sea gangsters.
Reaching a Tipping Point? (March 22)
Despite the wide range of counter-piracy initiatives in place, all signs point to 2011 being another record-breaking year in terms of the number of pirate attacks, ransom payments and violence against seafarers. The concept of an approaching ‘tipping point’ is increasingly being used to describe the growing sense of frustration among key stakeholders. In order to inform this discussion, Oceans Beyond Piracy has chosen to highlight significant developments to illustrate what may be meant by ‘tipping point’ and how stakeholders are reacting:
Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia and the UN Security Council:
Following the release of the report of the UN Secretary General’s Special Adviser on Piracy, Jack Lang, on January 25, the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia (CGPCS) and the UN Security Council have been discussing his 25 proposals to combat piracy laid out in the report. Working Group 2 of the CGPCS has expressed support for some of the proposals and the CGPCS plenary agreed that "the international community must actively pursue multiple approaches as recognized in the Lang Report to expand the capacity of the international community to prosecute and incarcerate pirates, and their leaders and financiers, through national prosecutions and innovative additional mechanisms, as well as the development and sharing of information on enabling networks" at the eighth plenary meeting in New York on March 21. Meanwhile, Russia has been circulating a draft UN Security Council resolution supporting key parts of the proposal while China chaired a meeting in the UN Security Council on March 10 on the need for a comprehensive strategy to restore peace and stability in Somalia.
SaveOurSeafarers Campaign:
On March 1, the Round Table of International Shipping Organizations and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) launched a new website as part of the SaveOurSeafarers campaign to raise awareness about the human and economic costs of maritime piracy and call for increased government action to eradicate piracy. As a key part of the campaign, visitors to the website can send a letter to their head of government urging their action on counter-piracy initiatives.
Calls for Seafarer and Industry Boycott of Risk Areas:
On February 25, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) issued a statement advising seafarers and trade unions to consider refusing to go through areas affected by piracy, such as the Gulf of Aden, the waters off the coast of Somalia, the Arabian Sea and the wider Indian Ocean Region. In addition, the statement called on shipowners to follow suit and avoid sending ships through these areas. Jan Hammer, CEO of the leading Norwegian tanker company Odfjell, echoed that view and encouraged other shipowners to join the seafarers in a boycott of the Suez Canal in order to force politicians to take action in a Reuters interview from March 16.
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Oceans Beyond Piracy is engaging a wide range of maritime stakeholders to address a long-term and sustainable solution to piracy.
Project Overview
International Counter-Piracy Activities
Contains interactive and printable "maps" of many of the initiatives in the field of counter-piracy to provide useful, concise, and accessible comparisons.
Research and Reference
This section includes piracy reference documents, maritime conventions, and Piracy Reports from various sources.
Long-Range Outlook
A tool for long-term planning, providing visibility on deadlines, meetings, and events related to global counter-piracy efforts.
Participants Area
These pages are intended to facilitate collaboration of the Oceans Beyond Piracy Working Group members.
Press Release Following the Death of 4 Americans Taken Hostage By Somali Pirates
Oceans Beyond Piracy sent out a statement on the recent developments in maritime piracy following the death of four Americans who were being held hostage on the SV Quest.
Download the press release in PDF format here.
Economic Cost of Piracy Report
At the end of 2010, around 500 seafarers from more than 18 countries are being held hostage by pirates. Piracy clearly affects the world’s largest trade transport industry, but how much is it costing the world? One Earth Future (OEF) Foundation has conducted a large-scale study to quantify the cost of piracy as part of its Oceans Beyond Piracy project. Based on our calculations, maritime piracy is costing the international economy between $7 to $12 billion, per year. This project is designed to be a collaborative effort, and we welcome feedback and suggestions from stakeholders concerned with the issue of maritime piracy. We hope that it will be a useful tool for analysts and policy makers working towards solutions to piracy.
To download a copy of the full report click here
Click on the links to see some reports on the study in the press: Voice of America, Reuters, BBC
If you would like to comment on the project, or have any questions, please contact Anna Bowden: abowden@oneearthfuture.org
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