PHL execs raise seafarers' concerns with new IMO chief

Philippine officials have raised with the new head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Koji Sekimizu, concerns about the piracy attacks against seafarers. A news release of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Philippine permanent representative to the IMO Enrique Manalo discussed the matter with Sekimizu in London on January 5.   "Ambassador Manalo was the first Permanent Representative to be received by Secretary General Sekimizu after the latter's assumption last January 1," the DFA said. The DFA noted that there are now 26 Filipino seafarers on board three vessels held Somali pirates.   The longest held in detention is a crew member of M/V Iceberg I which was hijacked on March 29, 2010 off the Port of Aden in Yemen. IMO SecGen's visit to PHL Meanwhile, the DFA said Sekimizu is expected to visit Manila in February to confer with senior Philippine government officials about the approaches that can be pursued to resolve the piracy threat off Somalia.   The DFA said the Philippines will be the first country he will visit after his scheduled meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York later this month.   "In their participation at meetings to combat piracy in IMO, the UN, and in various track-two fora, Philippine Government officials have been advocating the importance of promoting the safety of seafarers held hostage by pirates," the DFA said. "This advocacy has been supported by other governments. Pending the resolution of the piracy problem, the Philippines now allows the deployment of private armed guards by Philippine shipping companies with vessels operating off Somalia, subject to their adherence to strict guidelines promulgated by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and IMO," the DFA added.   Threat of piracy off Somalia   During the meeting, Manalo noted the continuing threat of piracy off Somalia.   Sekimizu, on the other hand, acknowledged the problem of piracy which must be addressed cooperatively by IMO, the United Nations, and other concerned groups.   Sekimizu said the piracy problem would be more effectively addressed if resources could be channelled to support and strengthen the government institutions in Somalia.   "Doing so can eradicate the roots of the piracy problem on their shore rather than for the international community to continue relying on naval protection for merchant vessels traversing high-risk areas off Somalia," the DFA said.   Seafarers' convention   Meanwhile, the Philippines deposited with the International Labor Organization the Philippine Instrument of Ratification on ILO C185 Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention 2003 at the the ILO Headquartes in Geneva.   ILO Director for International Standards Cleopatra Doumbia-Henry received the Philippine Instrument of Ratification on ILO C185 Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention 2003 from Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN and Other International Organizations Evan Garcia last January 19.   The C185 provides seafarers with a valid seafarers' identity document to help them enter ports when they are temporarily on shore leave or when joining their ship or transferring to another ship.   "The Convention will benefit some 250,000 Filipino seafares now employed in foreign vessels," the DFA said. - VVP, GMA News