InterManager President slams horrors of piracy

Alastair Evitt told today’s Annual General Meeting of InterManager that the horrors of piracy have dominated his first year of as President of the international trade association for the ship management industry.

Mr. Evitt, who is Managing Director of Meridian Marine Management, said that the fight against global piracy is a priority for his presidency and he praised the way the shipping industry has united to fight it.

“With 273 seafarers held hostage at this time, I feel it is appropriate to acknowledge the horrors of international piracy,” Mr.Evitt said. “This issue has brought the shipping industry together.”

He praised industry initiatives, including InterManager’s campaign urging Flag States to allow shipowners and managers the freedom to choose whether to put armed guards on ships during transits through piracy zones, the Save Our Seafarers campaign and the work of the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Program.

Mr. Evitt, who has completed the first year of a two-year term, said: “Our sea staff are the backbone of our industry and their safety and well being are a primary concern for InterManager.”

He also called the practice of releasing pirates captured by naval forces “appalling” and stressed the importance of “reducing the effectiveness of motherships” and of the international community putting in place credible measures to trace and criminalize the financiers of international piracy.

InterManager members have gathered in Manila, Philippines, for today’s AGM. Members will discuss key shipmanagement issues including piracy, the growth of maritime security providers, corporate social responsibility, crew manning and training, in addition to hearing updates on the industry-wide Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Project.

November 15, 2011