Festive Greetings and Happy Holidays
As we reach the end of 2011, we look back on a dramatic year in the maritime world where freedom of the seas and right to safe passage have been challenged once more by unscrupulous and unconscionable acts of piracy. However, we have seen the release of more seafarers, and despite the record level of attacks, there have been fewer successful hijacks.
The ransom demands continue to be paid but greater efforts to track this money are being made; the humanitarian efforts in support of seafarers has grown on a global scale; the naval forces have made greater impact with fewer resources, and the ship hardening measures have begun to bite. Undoubtedly, BMP, the additional security measures and the employment of armed guards has demonstrated the importance of collective defence. The cornerstone of it all is information sharing.
OCEANUSLive has steadily assisted in increasing the ability for collaboration, cooperation and coordination over the past year, including supporting the IMO directives in the 'Piracy: Orchestrating the Response' campaign; the Save Our Seafarers campaign and Seafarer Help.
We have maintained that enhancing the security and safety of the seafarer is greatly improved through information sharing and exchange - crowdsourcing. With the input from the shipping authorities and reporting organisations, and the input from those at sea in real-time, we will continue to meaningfully contribute to the betterment of the overarching maritime domain awareness.
It only remains to wish you all happy holidays, merry Christmas and a safe and peaceful New Year. To those at sea and those without the freedom to enjoy this festive period, our thoughts remain with you and your families.
OCEANUSLive.org
Information, Security, Safety; Shared