Levene calls for business solution to Somali piracy

Lord Levene is backing international development initiatives in the region as the best way to neutralise the threat of attacks on shipping.
“Further investment and closer cooperation will be vital to defeat this threat in the long term,” he said.
Lord Levene has lent his support to the Djibouti Code of Conduct, signed by 17 states in January, which looks to solve the “East African problem” through cooperation.
“As they operate and do business around the world, companies must work harder to show local communities that they can be responsible contributors,” Lord Levene said.
“This does not mean trying to solve political problems, so much as driving economic development in ways which can help deliver a more stable operating environment, both on land and at sea.”
Backing for renewed international action by business and government from Lloyd’s follows the International Maritime Organization-based common response to tackle piracy in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden.
IMO secretary-general Efthimios Mitropoulos gathered support for his code from Egypt, Ethiopia, France, Jordan, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Yemen.
The signatories have agreed to cooperate to the fullest possible extent, in a manner consistent with international law, in the repression of piracy and armed robbery against ships.
Practically, this means sharing intelligence, using piracy information centres in Mombasa, Dares Salaam and Sana’a, intercepting suspected ships, supporting victims and prosecuting individuals attempting armed robbery at sea.
Lord Levene now wants big business to answer the Djibouti meeting’s call to IMO members, international organisations and the maritime industry to give financial and technical assistance for the regional initiative.
He echoed the growing international consensus that what is happening offshore cannot be seen in isolation from what is taking place on land.
“Until there is a stable Somali government and a decent level of prosperity in the country the piracy problem cannot be eradicated,” he said.
“It is good and necessary that debate on this subject is now happening, with the US, Nato, the European Union and African states involved.”
Lloyd’s Market Association senior executive of underwriting Neil Roberts said: “Until the internal situation of Somalia can be improved, attacks on shipping will continue, especially if the lucrative nature of piracy attracts more participants.”
Mr Roberts added that the Djibouti initiative was a first step and noted that a similar initiative in “the very different circumstances of the Malacca Strait, took several years to become effective”.