Episcopal Church agency responds to international piracy

December 05, 2008 [Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church-related Seamen's Church Institute (SCI) has become involved in efforts to block the operations of Somali pirates.

Recent attacks on shipping by the pirates have attracted worldwide attention. There are currently 280 merchant mariners from 14 ships being held hostage by pirates in Somalia, according to a news release from SCI. Between January and September of this year, 581 merchant mariners have been taken hostage and nine were killed by pirates worldwide.
 
Seaman's Church Institute, a New York City-based ecumenical mariners' agency affiliated with the Episcopal Church, has worked on issues of piracy for over two decades -- recording cases, providing assistance to victims of these cases, and advocating to international organizations for tough standards to reduce instances of hijacking.
 
Douglas B. Stevenson, director of SCI's Center for Seafarers' Rights, recently helped craft an International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA) resolution on piracy. The resolution contains a pledge from ICMA and its member organizations to cooperate in accomplishing anti-piracy initiatives, which includes a promise to support the seafarers and families affected by piracy, SCI's release said.
 
"Although the UN has passed several resolutions on piracy, up to this point they have not included much discussion on the effects of piracy on merchant mariners," Stevenson said in the release. "We urge governments and organizations to take a strong stance to deter acts of piracy and also to provide care and assistance for the victims of these assaults."
 
Stevenson, who said the persistence of pirates is an issue on the world's waters, said in the release that "the scourge of piracy" is a call to action. "There are lasting affects of trauma from these attacks," he said, "and we must reach out to the affected victims of these hijackings."
 
The resolution also "deplores all acts of piracy and armed robbery against seafarers and fishers" and urges all countries to cooperate with each other, with relevant international organizations, and with the maritime industry "to coordinate their efforts to deter acts of piracy and armed robbery against seafarers and fishers."