A global campaign has been launched by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) calling upon governments to recognize their duty to regain control of the Indian Ocean and to bring those responsible for kidnapping and attacking merchant shipping and yachts to justice.
A coalition of organisations against piracy, with the support of Nautilus and the Professional Yachtsman’s Association, has also launched an e-petition to governments which aims to deliver to the United Nations half a million signatures by World Maritime Day on 23 September 2010.
The e-petition which is the centrepiece of a campaign pressing governments to commit enough resources towards ending the problem of piracy off the coast of Somalia. It calls on nations to find real solutions to the growing problem of piracy; to take immediate steps to secure the release and safe return of kidnapped seafarers; and to work together to secure a stable future for Somalia.
The PYA believes the issue of piracy has gone on for too long and action is needed to fight the ongoing threat that pirate attacks pose to the well being of seafarers, to shipping and the global economy. Pirate attacks continue to increase along the coast of Somalia and have recently spread further south towards Kenya and east towards the Seychelles, putting even more lives at risk, threatening world trade and affecting the safe movement of superyachts.
The PYA is requesting support for this global campaign so that they can show governments how angry we are. This petition is a great way of demonstrating wider support for government action.
Captain Andrew Schofield President of the PYA is invite everyone to sign an online petition. This can be done by visiting the following website:- www.endpiracypetition.org