UK prime minister David Cameron has failed to ease concerns that seafarers could suffer as a result of plans to restrict ransom payments to Somali pirates.
The maritime professionals' union Nautilus International wrote to Mr Cameron to highlight fears that crew members could pay with their lives if governments go ahead with plans to outlaw ransom payments when ships are hijacked.
In a letter to the union, Mr Cameron says the UK is seeking to establish an international task force to examine ways to 'bring about an end to the culture of ransom payments'. The PM said he hoped shipping industry partners would 'engage fully' with the task force and 'offer constructive advice' to it.
But Mr Dickinson said the PM's response had not succeeded in easing the union's concern that any moves to prevent payment of ransoms could jeopardise the safety of seafarers being held captive.
'Whilst no one wants to see large sums of money being paid to pirates, politicians have failed to provide any realistic alternative,' he added. 'Ransoms are the only way in which we can ensure the safe return of seafarers, and it is clear from a number of cases that any attempt to frustrate the payment can put crew members into even greater danger.
'Mr Cameron has to accept that it is the failure of governments to protect shipping that has put us into the position where the safety of critically important sea lanes can be jeopardised, and seafarers deserve much stronger support to ensure that they can keep world trade moving.'
UK prime minister David Cameron has failed to ease concerns that seafarers could suffer as a result of plans to restrict ransom payments to Somali pirates.
The maritime professionals' union Nautilus International wrote to Mr Cameron to highlight fears that crew members could pay with their lives if governments go ahead with plans to outlaw ransom payments when ships are hijacked.
In a letter to the union, Mr Cameron says the UK is seeking to establish an international task force to examine ways to 'bring about an end to the culture of ransom payments'.
The PM said he hoped shipping industry partners would 'engage fully' with the task force and 'offer constructive advice' to it.
But Mr Dickinson said the PM's response had not succeeded in easing the union's concern that any moves to prevent payment of ransoms could jeopardise the safety of seafarers being held captive.
'Whilst no one wants to see large sums of money being paid to pirates, politicians have failed to provide any realistic alternative,' he added. 'Ransoms are the only way in which we can ensure the safe return of seafarers, and it is clear from a number of cases that any attempt to frustrate the payment can put crew members into even greater danger.
'Mr Cameron has to accept that it is the failure of governments to protect shipping that has put us into the position where the safety of critically important sea lanes can be jeopardised, and seafarers deserve much stronger support to ensure that they can keep world trade moving.'
Source: Nautilus International