ID :
87963
Thu, 11/05/2009 - 09:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/87963
The shortlink copeid
Piracy, a concern shakes international navigation
By: Ayman Bajjash Translated by: Mahmoud Assamiee
ADEN, Nov. 03 (Saba)- Piracy, which is being evolved in regional
waters near coasts of the Gulf of Aden, has become a problem threatening nearly 70 percent of world trade's size crossing through the Gulf of Aden to Bab al-Mandab towards Suez Canal.
All countries, even great powers, could not find reasons behind emerging this
problem that worries these countries which sent their navies quickly to fight
pirates.
Many warships of the great powers like Russia, the United Sates and other countries
are spreading in regional waters before the Gulf of Aden. Even though, Somali
pirates
are still hijacking ships continuously. These warships arrested only less than
twenty pirates and have been extradited to Yemen which is interrogating them known.
Pricy causes damages to fishermen and economy The first governmental document
issued last July over the issue said piracy caused fishermen losses amounting to $
200 million
since the rise of piracy which hinders fishing in some areas in the Gulf of Aden.
The document affirmed that Yemen has suffered great losses led by rising costs of
insurances on ships for piracy. The county also has been given additional burdens-
despite
its limited capabilities- to protect marine trade lines and foiling a number of
piracy attempts besides hosting more than 700,000 Somali refugees in its lands.
The document mentioned that Yemen has been tasked with additional burdens to supply
marine forces and Yemeni Coast Guard Forces and to set up infrastructure
represented
in establishing security centers along the coastlines and buying boats and equipping
branches of general authority for marine affairs in protecting marine environment.
The country also was given the responsibility of search and rescue, setting up
surveillance system to monitor ships and building centers for equipping and
training security
elements along the coastal line.
All these cost the country approximately $ 150 million.
According to the document, which reveals continuous activity of piracy, the number
of incidents registered last year reached 126, 29 of theme were ship hijacking,
confinement
of 472 sailors who were than taken as hostages, arresting 40 suspects of Somali
pirates to be tried in Yemen without support of international bodies.
The document indicated that piracy incidents around Somali coasts, the Gulf of Aden
and the Red Sea have reached maximum levels in 2008 to 111 cases. 24 of them were
ship
hijacking and kidnapping 815 sailors.
The first piracy incident was in the Gulf of Aden in 1995 then increased remarkably
during 2004- 2006 and then increased in 2007.
Diplomatic activities To contain this problem and having suitable solutions to
them, Yemen has sought international cooperation, via participation in activities
and meeting
concerning fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the West of the
Indian Ocean held in several countries. Yemen approved bill called "Approach
Document" signed
in Djibouti in January 2009. It also approved regional center to exchange
information over piracy to be located in Sana'a besides to other to be located in
Darussalam and
Mombassa.
Yemen also hosted the regional meeting over marine security in the Gulf of Aden
held in Sana'a last February 2009 and meeting of the ninth round of the Indian
Ocean Rim-Association
for Regional Cooperation held in June 2009.
Diplomatic activities led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh targeted bringing
viewpoints closer and realizing reconciliation between warring factors in Somalia
and coordinating
efforts towards the problem.
Piracy in the Gulf of Aden The preparatory committee of Aden Investment Conference-
Aden Yemen's Gate to the World included piracy in the conference's agenda as basic
point
to be discussed, besides other six ones related to investment, its difficulties and
in Yemen and available investment opportunities.
General Supervisor of the conference Badr Ba-Salmah said piracy included in the
conference due to the complexity of the problem it reached recently and the great
economic
damages to Yemen and neighboring countries, especially GCC countries.
Basalma indicated also the negative effects caused by this phenomenon on the
economic and trade activities in Aden Port directly and indirectly due to the
increase insurances
on the costs of insurances on transport costs.
Chairman of the conference's preparatory committee sheikh Mohammad Ba-Mashmous said
that piracy does not concern only Yemen and countries overlooking the Gulf of Aden
but
also an international issue concerns all countries in the world. He said solving
this issue is the safety of the Gulf of Aden region, affirming necessity of coming
out with
international solutions to protect ships coming and leaving the area.
Bamashmous Added that Yemen is able to do this "through our discussion in the
conference, we will give an idea to investors about the situation. We are not
desperate… Yemen
has a vision regarding this issue via its relation to the next conference.
Executive Director of the Gulf of Aden Port Corporation Mohammad bin Aifan
affirmed importance of discussing this issue in the conference and discovering its
reasons to
find suitable solutions to it.
He added that the problem as found in coming ships, it is there in fees imposed on
goods they carry. Sorrowfully, the number of ships has decreased since the
beginning of
the year by 10 percent." Hopes for solutions Executive Director of Saba Aden
Shipping & Stevedoring Co. Ltd Ali Al-Sharafi says discussing the problem in the
conference
is a chance to Yemenis to present the issue concerns their economy and security.
Al-Sharafi finds it strange that three or four pirates hijacking great ships such
oil tankers which every one has three stations for helicopter, noting that there
might
be another dimension could be political behind neglecting this marine passage.
ESCWA's senior expert Mohammad Bashurahil agrees with Al-Sharafi. He said there is
a project for the whole region concerning political and regional changes will be
discussed
in the conference. He also finds it strange the existence of all these forces in the
region to fight few small boats.
He added that the project is still in a closed field, affirming necessity of
finding solutions to this phenomenon, which affects greatly the country's economy.
The question remains, will the conference come out with suitable solutions to
piracy to eradicate the problem decisively?
ADEN, Nov. 03 (Saba)- Piracy, which is being evolved in regional
waters near coasts of the Gulf of Aden, has become a problem threatening nearly 70 percent of world trade's size crossing through the Gulf of Aden to Bab al-Mandab towards Suez Canal.
All countries, even great powers, could not find reasons behind emerging this
problem that worries these countries which sent their navies quickly to fight
pirates.
Many warships of the great powers like Russia, the United Sates and other countries
are spreading in regional waters before the Gulf of Aden. Even though, Somali
pirates
are still hijacking ships continuously. These warships arrested only less than
twenty pirates and have been extradited to Yemen which is interrogating them known.
Pricy causes damages to fishermen and economy The first governmental document
issued last July over the issue said piracy caused fishermen losses amounting to $
200 million
since the rise of piracy which hinders fishing in some areas in the Gulf of Aden.
The document affirmed that Yemen has suffered great losses led by rising costs of
insurances on ships for piracy. The county also has been given additional burdens-
despite
its limited capabilities- to protect marine trade lines and foiling a number of
piracy attempts besides hosting more than 700,000 Somali refugees in its lands.
The document mentioned that Yemen has been tasked with additional burdens to supply
marine forces and Yemeni Coast Guard Forces and to set up infrastructure
represented
in establishing security centers along the coastlines and buying boats and equipping
branches of general authority for marine affairs in protecting marine environment.
The country also was given the responsibility of search and rescue, setting up
surveillance system to monitor ships and building centers for equipping and
training security
elements along the coastal line.
All these cost the country approximately $ 150 million.
According to the document, which reveals continuous activity of piracy, the number
of incidents registered last year reached 126, 29 of theme were ship hijacking,
confinement
of 472 sailors who were than taken as hostages, arresting 40 suspects of Somali
pirates to be tried in Yemen without support of international bodies.
The document indicated that piracy incidents around Somali coasts, the Gulf of Aden
and the Red Sea have reached maximum levels in 2008 to 111 cases. 24 of them were
ship
hijacking and kidnapping 815 sailors.
The first piracy incident was in the Gulf of Aden in 1995 then increased remarkably
during 2004- 2006 and then increased in 2007.
Diplomatic activities To contain this problem and having suitable solutions to
them, Yemen has sought international cooperation, via participation in activities
and meeting
concerning fighting piracy in the Gulf of Aden, the Red Sea and the West of the
Indian Ocean held in several countries. Yemen approved bill called "Approach
Document" signed
in Djibouti in January 2009. It also approved regional center to exchange
information over piracy to be located in Sana'a besides to other to be located in
Darussalam and
Mombassa.
Yemen also hosted the regional meeting over marine security in the Gulf of Aden
held in Sana'a last February 2009 and meeting of the ninth round of the Indian
Ocean Rim-Association
for Regional Cooperation held in June 2009.
Diplomatic activities led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh targeted bringing
viewpoints closer and realizing reconciliation between warring factors in Somalia
and coordinating
efforts towards the problem.
Piracy in the Gulf of Aden The preparatory committee of Aden Investment Conference-
Aden Yemen's Gate to the World included piracy in the conference's agenda as basic
point
to be discussed, besides other six ones related to investment, its difficulties and
in Yemen and available investment opportunities.
General Supervisor of the conference Badr Ba-Salmah said piracy included in the
conference due to the complexity of the problem it reached recently and the great
economic
damages to Yemen and neighboring countries, especially GCC countries.
Basalma indicated also the negative effects caused by this phenomenon on the
economic and trade activities in Aden Port directly and indirectly due to the
increase insurances
on the costs of insurances on transport costs.
Chairman of the conference's preparatory committee sheikh Mohammad Ba-Mashmous said
that piracy does not concern only Yemen and countries overlooking the Gulf of Aden
but
also an international issue concerns all countries in the world. He said solving
this issue is the safety of the Gulf of Aden region, affirming necessity of coming
out with
international solutions to protect ships coming and leaving the area.
Bamashmous Added that Yemen is able to do this "through our discussion in the
conference, we will give an idea to investors about the situation. We are not
desperate… Yemen
has a vision regarding this issue via its relation to the next conference.
Executive Director of the Gulf of Aden Port Corporation Mohammad bin Aifan
affirmed importance of discussing this issue in the conference and discovering its
reasons to
find suitable solutions to it.
He added that the problem as found in coming ships, it is there in fees imposed on
goods they carry. Sorrowfully, the number of ships has decreased since the
beginning of
the year by 10 percent." Hopes for solutions Executive Director of Saba Aden
Shipping & Stevedoring Co. Ltd Ali Al-Sharafi says discussing the problem in the
conference
is a chance to Yemenis to present the issue concerns their economy and security.
Al-Sharafi finds it strange that three or four pirates hijacking great ships such
oil tankers which every one has three stations for helicopter, noting that there
might
be another dimension could be political behind neglecting this marine passage.
ESCWA's senior expert Mohammad Bashurahil agrees with Al-Sharafi. He said there is
a project for the whole region concerning political and regional changes will be
discussed
in the conference. He also finds it strange the existence of all these forces in the
region to fight few small boats.
He added that the project is still in a closed field, affirming necessity of
finding solutions to this phenomenon, which affects greatly the country's economy.
The question remains, will the conference come out with suitable solutions to
piracy to eradicate the problem decisively?
