By Dheza Marie Aguilar, ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau
Posted at 11/23/2010 5:16 PM | Updated as of 11/23/2010 5:16 PM
NETHERLANDS – Hundreds of Filipinos have already been kidnapped in the Gulf of Aden and around the Horn of Africa. Most of them are still in the hands of their captors. But hundreds of thousands more are still in dangerous waters around the Horn of Africa and risking their lives in the hope of a better life for their families.
Amidst the fear of their families back home and the call of maritime organizations to ban Pinoy seafarers from going to the Gulf of Aden, a Dutch ship owner urged the Philippine government to send ships to the Gulf of Aden to help in protecting Filipino seafarers.
“Do the same as the Koreans, Chinese and Japanese. They have at least one or two navy ships there and they are organizing escort convoys. In my opinion that is the best way to help them on the spot,” said Erik Berendsen, captain and director of KVB Moerman, one of the many Dutch shipping companies which are hiring Filipino crew.
Another Dutch shipping company hiring mostly Filipino crew, who does not want to be named due to their more delicate operations in the Gulf of Aden, also supports Barendsen’s recommendation.
Military Aid
In addition to the best management practice developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) that includes installing razor blade wires, fire equipment and water spray and lines around the ship, there are three ways to pass safely through the corridor of the Gulf of Aden, the notorious “pirate alley.”
A mandatory reporting of the vessels that are going to the Gulf of Aden is required by Maritime Security Centre – Horn of Africa or MSC-HOA. They coordinate all activities with the European Union Naval Force Somalia or Operations Atlanta, a group of 23 Navy vessels spread through the Gulf of Aden, monitoring the ships passing through the corridor.
“They promise us that within 20 minutes after pushing the button that something is wrong or about to go wrong, they will come,” explained Barendsen.
There is also the combined force 151, a group of countries which are not members of the EU, like Korea, India, Japan, China and Russia. They are organizing naval ships convoy for their ships which are passing through the corridor.
Meanwhile, other ship owners choose to hire private security firms to ensure safe passage of their ships through the Gulf of Aden.
Limited capacity
Balitang Europe tried to contact the Philippine embassy in The Hague about the efforts that the Philippines is undertaking in the Gulf of Aden but they refused to grant us an interview because it is not their jurisdiction. However, the embassy said that there is one military officer assigned in Somalia for monitoring.
Meanwhile, a retired captain and commander of the Royal Navy of the Netherlands said that providing naval support in the Gulf of Aden and other risk areas of piracy would be very difficult for the Philippines.
Because the Philippine Navy is mainly trained for coastal and land protection, and there are limited naval ships that meet the requirements of combat in the high seas, Captain Jouke Schotel said that the Philippines has a limited capacity to help.
“There seems to be very little that that the Philippine government can do at the moment. The major problem is that protecting ships in such a large area is you need ships that can sustain in high seas for a long period. Frigate-size ships need to be able to stay at sea for a very long period. They have to have facilities like helicopters on board, communicate with other ships and aircrafts. It is quite a complex situation that they have to operate,” explained Schotel.
The only option, according to him, is for the Philippines to participate in the efforts of the United Nations to lend support in the Gulf of Aden.
“The only thing that you can do, through the United Nations, is provide officers and interpreters to help out when ships with Filipinos crew are being captured by the pirates. I think that is the utmost that can be done,” he continued.
Schotel also explained that the responsibilities of protecting the seafarers lie mainly on the owners of the ships and the flag that they are carrying.
Ships sailing under the flags of European, American and countries with strong naval forces who can lend military support, benefit more from their government’s protection because of economic drive. Majority of Filipino seafarers are crew members of ships sailing under other countries’ flags.
“You want to protect your people. That is the humanitarian part of it. Nowadays, such has been the interest of many nations to protect shipping but mainly for economic reasons not for humanitarian reasons, because if national trade should be hampered, this is in everybody’s disadvantage. Nobody really cares who is on-board. It is an economic drive that brings them to do a humanitarian act. International politics has always been a part of it,” said Schotel.
There are at least 200 movements in the Gulf of Aden everyday. As part of the Suez canal, it is a vital route for ships trading in the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean.
Willing to risk their lives
Despite the apparent danger, Filipino seafarers are still willing to risk their lives and sail through the Gulf of Aden.
“Siyempre kabado ka na pagdumaan ka sa Somalia, kabado kasi one day approaching ka pala may balita na ng mga barkong sinampahan. Lalo na loaded barko tapos wala kang perang maibigay. Wala naman problema ang mga crew kasi suportado naman ng goberyno natin, mga principal saka mga manning agency. Trabaho mo naman yan, kasama sa kontrata yan, at least din sa pamilya mo yun trabaho mo wala ka namang magawa din,” said Saturnino Tokong, a Pinoy crew of a Norwegian shipping company.
Meanwhile, for Rodel Maribay, a crew member of the same ship, he counts on the security measures of their company to stay safe if crossing the Gulf of Aden
“Lagi naman natin na pag may dumadaan dun ay delikado din pero sa tulong ng mga officers and crew, napaghahandaan ang safety at security,” he said.
There are still 97 Filipinos held captive by Somalian pirates. The Philippine government however has intensified its efforts to help the situation and was recently admitted as a member of the Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Somalia.
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