Demand for security arrangements by the governments of different countries in association with the international maritime organisation (IMO) is getting strengthened.
Demand for security arrangements by the governments of different countries in association with the international maritime organisation (IMO) is getting strengthened in the wake of series of piracies by the Somali pirates in the Arabian Sea. Bangladesh Merchant Marine Officers Association, an organisation of crew officers and master mariners, said that incidents of piracy in the waters of the Arabian Sea have frightened the crewmen of the seagoing vessels. "Some crewmen have shown reluctance to work if situation is not improved to protect them," said Captain Foisal Azim, general secretary of the association. Earlier, the Bangladesh Oceangoing Vessel Owners' Association in its meeting with the DG of Shipping of the government of Bangladesh expressed concern at the situation following abduction of a Bangladesh ship by the Somali pirates from the Indian coast on December 5. Captai Foisal Azim suggested the government to raise the issue of piracy with IMO, the international monitoring agency on such events, in association with the governments involved in shipping business. Quoting the latest IMO report Captain Azim said, as many as 51 ships have been pirated for ransom in the year 2010, of which 46 cases have occurred alone in the Arabian Sea. About 26 ships are still in control of the Somali pirates while others have been set free for ransom. He said there are over 5000 officer-level crew, that is, master mariners and 2nd officers, in the ships from home and abroad while 3500 Bangladeshi mariners are working.
