Strengthening international cooperation in the prevention of pirates

The Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs held the Third International Maritime Forum on June 8, 2009, in Seoul Lotte Hotel with the participation of Chung Jong Hwan, Minister of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, Koji Sekimizu, Director of IMO Maritime Safety Division, Corey Turner, Lieutenant Commander of Combined Maritime Forces and 200 people in the maritime field from home and abroad.

The Forum was held under the theme preventing and Suppressing Piracy to come up with more efficient responsive measures on piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.

-Loss caused by piracy off Somalia: 20 attacks in 2006, 44 in 2007 and 111 in 2008

-Globally, 293 vessels were attacked by pirates in 2008; 49 vessels and 900 mariners were hijacked and
kidnapped; and 32 mariners were murdered or missing.

Under the theme, the participants set up a policy in order to respond to increasing pirate attacks on international vessels (including Korean national vessels) off the coast Somalia and to strengthen international cooperation on the response and prevention of piracy, which is continuously increasing despite the concerted efforts of the international community.

In the forum, experts presented and discussed 8 agendas such as current trends and practices of pirates and armed robbers experience of maritime operations in the Gulf of Aden guidance to vessels on sailing through the pirates-ridden sea?and ?aritime insurance for piracy

It is expected that measures for the prevention and suppression of piracy drawn up in the forum will have huge impact on building an international framework for deterring piracy and will help secure the safety of Korean vessels sailing through the Gulf of Aden.

For reference, the International Maritime Forum has acted as an important Think Tank for research on international maritime policy and a place to strengthen international cooperation on coming up with responsive measures by discussing agendas such as marine safety and marine environment protection.

The Third International Maritime Forum will be held to increase international cooperation on the suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships off the coast of Somalia together with a high-level conference led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.<Korea Shipping Gazette>