Somali Pirates: Asian shipowners want piracy fought

Reported as Asian Shipowners Call for Strong Will to Combat Piracy:

The Asian Shipowners Forum (ASF), a grouping of shipowner associations in the region, says ships crossing the Gulf of Aden continue to be attacked despite the Coalition members' best efforts, due to inadequate resources and lack of proper rules of engagement among the members of the Coalition forces.

"The ASF urgently appeals to the United Nations, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and all maritime nations to exercise strong political will to combat this problem.

"Where possible, governments are strongly urged to reinforce and strengthen the Coalition naval and air forces based in the Middle East," ASF said in a statement released last Tuesday.

It also urged governments to commit to increased number of deployed warships in the Gulf of Aden.

ASF groups seven shipowner associations from Australia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and the Federation of Asean Shipowners' Associations, comprising shipping associations in Asean.

So far the number of warships deployed to fight pirates in the Gulf of Aden from Australia, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea is .... none.

Australia does have one ship deployed to the Arabian Gulf.