INTERMANAGER Expresses Sorrow at Seafarers Death

InterManager, the international trade association for the shipmanagement industry, has expressed its extreme anger and deep sorrow after a seafarer died at the hands of pirates.

The Chief Officer of the Panamax crude oil tanker Cancale Star died and several crew members were injured when the Liberian-flagged vessel was attacked by pirates off the coast of Benin, West Africa. The Ukrainian officer was fatally injured as pirates attempted to board the ship and the crew fought back. The crew regained control of the vessel and captured one pirate who they handed over to authorities at the port of Cotonou, Benin.

InterManager's members represent some 125,000 crew members on board more than 3,700 ships. President Roberto Giorgi said: "InterManager expresses its sincere condolences to the family of the Chief Officer who lost his life performing his duty. We wholeheartedly condemn the actions of these pirates and call on the international community to join forces to tackle the increasingly violent piracy off the West African coastline."

InterManager is backing a call from an InterManager member Tsakos Shipping and Trading SA, for the deployment of UN Naval forces and the introduction of safe transit corridors in Nigerian waters to prevent further losses of life.

Roberto Giorgi's company, V.Ships, experienced Nigerian piracy at first hand one month ago when a crew managed bulk carrier was attacked by pirates with semiautomatic weapons and some crew members were injured. He said: "The issue of piracy is not only related to Somalia and the Gulf of Aden but affects many areas around the world and has done for many years. These attacks in West Africa are quite common and are often much more brutal than in Somalia.

Mr. Giorgi called for stronger international legislation to defeat the escalating global threat of piracy. "We need stricter international rules which are applied and implemented equally and effectively throughout the world," he said, calling on all government authorities to be more proactive in preventing piracy on its shores."