French carrier CMA CGM announced that it will pay officers and crews of its container vessels a high-risk bonus of 100 percent of their base salaries and wages while they are passing through the Gulf of Aden because of the danger posed by Somali-based pirates.
The French carrier said 65 of its container ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each month, most of them on the Asia-Europe trade.
The large container vessels have a capacity ranging from 4,000 TEUs to 11,000 TEUS and sail at an average speed of 24 knots.
The carrier said it applies very strict safety and security regulations and has set up a number of measures to avoid potential attacks even though container vessels are less vulnerable than other ships due to their speed and high freeboard.
In April, pirates hijacked the luxury yacht Le Ponant owned by CMA CGM in the Gulf of Aden as it returned from the Seychelles. The crew of 30 were eventually released after an eight-day stand-off.
The French carrier said 65 of its container ships pass through the Gulf of Aden each month, most of them on the Asia-Europe trade.
The large container vessels have a capacity ranging from 4,000 TEUs to 11,000 TEUS and sail at an average speed of 24 knots.
The carrier said it applies very strict safety and security regulations and has set up a number of measures to avoid potential attacks even though container vessels are less vulnerable than other ships due to their speed and high freeboard.
In April, pirates hijacked the luxury yacht Le Ponant owned by CMA CGM in the Gulf of Aden as it returned from the Seychelles. The crew of 30 were eventually released after an eight-day stand-off.
