Asian Shipowners Forum
Safe Navigation & Environment Committee(SNEC)
c/o Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations (FASA)
59 Tras Street, Singapore 078998
Tel: (65) 62225238 Fax: (65) 622225527
email: fasa@pacific.net.sg

PRESS RELEASE(Embargoed until delivery)
Date: 18 March 2011

ASIAN SHIPOWNERS EXPRESS OUTRAGE AT LACKOF GOVERNMENT ACTION IN FACE OF
ESCALATING PIRACY INCIDENTS
At the 20th Interim Meeting of the Asian Shipowners’ Forum (ASF) SafeNavigation & Environment Committee (SNEC) held in Singapore on 18 March2011, representatives of Asian shipowners’ associations expressed their anger
and outrage at the increasing number of attacks on their ships and the brutality
shown by Somali pirates.

“The current situation, where a handful of pirates in open skiffs can hold theworld’s economy hostage, is completely unacceptable – as responsible owners
and managers, we must take all necessary steps to ensure the safety andwellbeing of our seafarers!” said Mr. S. S. Teo, SNEC Chairman. “Not only areseafarers being tortured and murdered – civilians and children are being targeted
as well. The situation is increasingly untenable.”

It was noted that pirates had attacked 445 ships, hijacked 53 of them and taken
1181 seafarers hostage worldwide in 2010. Today, about 700 seafarers remain
hostages in deplorable conditions off Somalia.

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The Committee expressed very serious concern at the threat posed by pirates tointernational shipping, particularly in the Gulf of Aden, the Indian Ocean and in
the waters off Somalia.

The Committee demands that all governments must act decisively andexpeditiously to eradicate piracy and attacks on ships. Whilst appreciating theassistance and protection provided by the naval forces stationed in the Gulf ofAden presently, the Committee does not consider it sustainable in the longerterm. The Committee is of the unanimous view that the United Nations and theInternational Maritime Organisation (IMO) must exercise strong political will tobring the situation under control.

The Meeting strongly supports the call by international shipping organisations
worldwide to neutralise the threat of the captured, hostage-crewed mother shipsthat are allowing pirates to roam the Indian Ocean unimpeded. The Committee
acknowledges that in addition to complying fully with all the measures put
forward in the latest version of Best Management Practices to deter piracy in theGulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia, which has been developed by theindustry, the Committee notes and appreciates that individual ASF Members may
adopt additional safety measures such as the use of armed guards to protect thelives and well-being of their seafarers.

Whilst the Committee further acknowledged that the use of private armed guards
should be a measure of last resort, the Committee nonetheless welcomes theproposal by Singapore, with support from the Philippines, ICS and BIMCO,
calling on the IMO to consider the development of non-mandatory guidance toassist ship owners and operators in employing private armed security service
providers. Furthermore, the Committee supports the submission to IMO from theBahamas and the Marshall Islands calling for the accreditation of independent
maritime security providers.

2|PageIn closing, the Committee stressed that whilst ship owners and managers should
do their utmost to protect their seafarers, ultimate responsibility for ensuringsafety of navigation on the high seas should rest with governments.

“This is the most pressing issue for the industry at this time” said Mr. S. S. Teo.

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Hosted by the Singapore Shipping Association (SSA), the 20th Interim Meeting ofthe SNEC was attended by representatives of shipowners’ associations from
Hong Kong, India, Chinese Taipei and the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’
Associations (FASA) as represented by the shipowners’ associations ofIndonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Mr. S.S. Teo, President of SSA chaired the SNEC meeting on behalf of FASA.

During the meeting, the Committee also considered and discussed current
issues of concern relating to the safe navigation of ships and the protection ofthe marine environment.
For any further questions, please contact:
Mr. Daniel Tan,
Secretary
ASF Safe Navigation & Environment Committee
Tel: (65) 62225238
Email: fasa@pacific.net.sg

Editor's note:
The Asian Shipowners’ Forum is a voluntary organization of the shipowner associations of Australia, China, Chinese Taipei,
Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea and the Federation of ASEAN Shipowners’ Associations comprising shipping associations ofASEAN countries. The aims of the ASF are to promote the interests of the Asian shipowning industries. Between annual ASF
meetings, the ongoing work is carried out by the five Standing Committees; the Shipping Economics Review Committee, theSeafarers Committee, the Ship Recycling Committee, the Safe Navigation and Environment Committee, and the Ship Insuranceand Liability Committee. It has been estimated that ASF owners and managers control and operate nearly 50% of the world's
cargo carrying fleet.

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