Shipowners call for justice, slam release of Somali pirates

THE release of pirates by the Spanish warship that caught them after a foiled attack on the tanker Bow Saga has sparked condemnation from shipowners of Intertanko, who described the act as a "bitter blow to the shipping industry in the fight against piracy".

While the attack was thwarted by the Spanish frigate Victoria, which arrested seven suspects, they decided to let them go after discussions with legal authorities.


Containerisation International reported an "embarrassed EU NAVFOR" [EU naval contingent] said: "Due to the legal framework and timelines encompassing piracy and criminal activity at sea, the prosecution of the seven individuals in this specific case could not be initiated with confidence."


Earlier, Intertanko had demanded that the Somali pirates who attacked the Norwegian 40,085-ton chemical tanker in the Gulf of Aden internationally recognised transit corridor be prosecuted.


"We hope that these men will not be released due to the absence of any country willing to detain them and try them in court. We appeal to the seizing state (Spain) or the flag state (Norway) to `cooperate to the fullest possible extent in repression of piracy` as per Article 100 of UNCLOS, and therefore to prosecute or extradite, either to prosecute the pirates on the basis of customary international law, or to transfer the prosecution to another state," the organisation said earlier.


This summer has seen the successful prosecution of pirates in Rotterdam and the Seychelles, resulting in prison sentences of five years for five pirates for the attack on the Sananyolu and 10 years for 11 pirates for the attack on the Topaz.


Intertanko expressed hope that this pressure to obtain proper justice would be sustained in the case of the Bow Saga, particularly as it was understood that naval personnel who boarded and searched the skiff found weapons on board.


"We understand that the master of the vessel, which is en route to Europe, has given a statement to a representative from EUNAVFOR. One of the keys to a successful prosecution is availability of officers and crew of the naval vessel, as well as of the attacked vessel, to provide witness statements in court or at least to provide written testimony," the organisation said.