Union Applies Pressure

Nautilus International, is acting to keep the issues of piracy and the threats posed to crews  in the UK Governments eye.

The Union, which represents almost 23,000 shipmasters, officers, cadets, ratings and other maritime professionals, has called for a meeting with British ministers following claims the threat to ships and seafarers is “greater than ever”.

With Somali pirate attacks set to increase in both frequency and ferocity, Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson has written to UK Africa minister Henry Bellingham to voice concern about the “deeply disturbing” developments.

He said Nautilus was particularly concerned about the potential impact of defence expenditure reductions on the already limited ability of naval forces to protect merchant ships in the expanding danger area.

“I believe it is important for the Foreign Office to reconvene discussions on these issues and to consider further initiatives that could be pursued to ameliorate the increasing threat to merchant ships and their crews,” he said.