The IMO Assembly today signed a new resolution appealing directly to Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government to act to stop piracy and armed robbery off its coasts, and specifically asking for to allow warships pursuing pirates into its territorial waters. The 167-member Assembly is the IMO's governing body.
The resolution also specifically calls on East African governments, in co-operation with the IMO, to conclude a regional agreement against piracy and armed robbery against ships, the organisation said in a statement today. Governments are called on to issue their fleets with specific guidelines for protection against piracy when trading off Somalia, and ships are urged to report any attempted attacks to nearby coastal states and to the nearest MRCC.
Governments are further asked to instruct appropriate agencies to broadcast advice and warnings on reported pirate attacks through the World-Wide Navigation Warning Services, International SafetyNet Service or other means to warn nearby shipping. “They are also asked to provide a point of contact through which ships may request advice or assistance and to which such ships can report any security concerns,” the press release says.
The resolution comes after moves by the IMO and the UN Security Council earlier this year eliciting official Somali responses to the piracy issue. The full text of the resolution, which has emerged from the IMO's 25th Assembly this week, will appear on the organisation's website, www.imo.org.
The resolution also specifically calls on East African governments, in co-operation with the IMO, to conclude a regional agreement against piracy and armed robbery against ships, the organisation said in a statement today. Governments are called on to issue their fleets with specific guidelines for protection against piracy when trading off Somalia, and ships are urged to report any attempted attacks to nearby coastal states and to the nearest MRCC.
Governments are further asked to instruct appropriate agencies to broadcast advice and warnings on reported pirate attacks through the World-Wide Navigation Warning Services, International SafetyNet Service or other means to warn nearby shipping. “They are also asked to provide a point of contact through which ships may request advice or assistance and to which such ships can report any security concerns,” the press release says.
The resolution comes after moves by the IMO and the UN Security Council earlier this year eliciting official Somali responses to the piracy issue. The full text of the resolution, which has emerged from the IMO's 25th Assembly this week, will appear on the organisation's website, www.imo.org.