Eradicate pirates’ nests

Marine union calls for tougher action from US against pirates.

Captain Phillips Wants Pirates’ Nests Eradicated

The White House unveiled a new policy to combat maritime piracy that recommends various diplomatic cooperative strategies and alludes to possible military action to destroy buccaneer bases, which the leading merchant marine organization and the world’s most-famous mariner applaud but also criticize.

The International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots is the oldest and most-prestigious professional maritime officers’ union. Its best-known member is Captain Richard Phillips – name sake of the Oscar-nominated high-seas piracy motion picture drama, starring actor Tom Hanks.

“The June 2014 United States Counter Piracy and Maritime Security Action Plan is the first initiative in seven years that charts a new course for eliminating at-sea outlaws,” says MM&P’s Captain Phillips. “It is time to zero-in on the pirates’ nests and eradicate them.”

Captain Phillips was held hostage by Somali pirates after they hijacked the ship he commanded, the Maersk Alabama, while sailing the Indian Ocean in April 2009. He was held hostage in a life boat for five days until U.S. Navy Seal snipers killed his captors.

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Source: maritime-executive.com