Government and industry leaders from around the world committed to taking concrete steps to battle piracy in the short and long term, and both on and off shore at a counter-piracy conference recently held in Dubai.

A declaration adopted by senior officials from more than 65 governments, international organisations including the United Nations, the International Maritime Organisation, and more than 120 maritime and maritime industry related companies underlined the seriousness of the threat of piracy on national security as well as on trade and the maritime industry.

They called for immediate and collaborative action to tackle the human and financial repercussions of piracy as well as introduce a comprehensive and coordinated approach to address the root causes of piracy.

Industry also issued a statement to accompany the declaration that proposed active steps to address the danger that vessels and their crew face daily travelling through waters in which pirates are operating.

The summit was co-convened under the theme “Global challenge, regional responses: Forging a common approach to maritime piracy” by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and global marine terminal operator DP World.

The conference was visited by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, who met with 16 foreign ministers and three senior industry leaders.

The conference provided a forum for high level deliberations by more than 700 delegates who included foreign and state ministers.

In the 11-clause communiqué, available on the conference website, counterpiracy.ae, delegates agreed that “maritime piracy and armed robbery at sea continue to represent a grave threat to Somalia and other states in the region, as well as to worldwide international navigation, the safety of global commercial maritime routes, and the safety of seafarers and other persons.

“The escalation of pirate attacks in 2011 has hurt global trade and commerce, and has a damaging impact on peace, security and stability throughout the world.”

Parallel to the main conference, the UAE and the United Nations fundraising event in support of the Trust Fund to Support Initiatives of States Countering Piracy off the Coast of Somalia raised more than $5.1 million, with more pledges expected in coming weeks.

Amongst those, the UAE government pledged a donation of $1 million to the Trust Fund, while UAE-based companies donated $400,000.

It is the first time that industry has contributed to the fund – a fact noted in the Final Declaration which recognises it as a transformative moment in ensuring a fully resourced, comprehensive public-private counter-piracy approach.

The Final Declaration also expresses serious concern at the inhumane conditions facing captive seafarers and calls for humanitarian initiatives to relieve the suffering of the victims of piracy attacks, including their families.

Meanwhile, industry leaders issued a statement supporting the efforts of the UN and relevant government and non-government organisations to tackle the root causes of piracy through long term on-shore projects.

Industry proposed several measures to combat the increasing attacks on commercial and non-commercial vessels.

These included increased military presence in the waters off the shores of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, the shadowing of motherships controlled by pirates to monitor activities and engage if there are moves to attack shipping.

The proposed measures also called for the co-ordination by the current military control centre between navy vessels to closely monitor pirate controlled vessels and inform industry in real time of potential pirate controlled vessels in the area their ships are travelling. – TradeArabia News Service