container lines reinitiate piracy meetings to keep focus on piracy

CMA CGM, MSC, Maersk Line and Hamburg Sud representing 40% of the world container shipping industry have met to discuss the piracy threat towards international shipping.

The meeting focused on piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and West Africa.

The cooperation between CMA CGM, MSC, Maersk Line and Hamburg Sud includes information exchange on security measures, piracy policies and procedures as well as coordination with relevant stakeholders.

“Although we have seen a decline in piracy activity over the past year, piracy continues to be a concern for the shipping industry, and therefore we still need our piracy consensus meetings where we can cooperate on responses to the threat to ensure the safety and security of our seafarers,”CMA CGM, MSC, Maersk Line and Hamburg Sud said in a joint statement.

At the piracy consensus meeting, CMA CGM, MSC, Maersk Line and Hamburg Sud agreed that the international community’ efforts to fight the problem have contributed significantly to the improvement in the situation seen today.

“Especially, the naval presence in the Gulf of Aden and the pursuit of appropriate legal frameworks to ensure pirates are prosecuted and held responsible for their crimes have contributed hereto.”

“We highly appreciate the efforts by the international community to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and the success achieved."

“The continued commitment by the international community with a strong presence and mandate is critical to sustain the current low level of piracy activity,” CMA CGM, MSC, Maersk Line and Hamburg Sud said. < Korea Shipping Gazette >