31 Oct
2018

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More than a quarter of seafarers seeking crisis response affected by piracy, maritime charity reveals

More than a quarter of seafarers seeking crisis response affected by piracy, maritime charity reveals

31 Oct, 2018

Sailors’ Society’s Crisis Response Network (CRN) provided support to its 100^th case this week, with piracy, death at sea and abandonment accounting for almost two-thirds (59 per cent) of those supported.

The international maritime charity, based in Southampton, set up its 24/7 rapid response team in South Africa in 2015 to provide trauma care and counselling to survivors of piracy attacks, natural disasters and crises at sea.

The CRN has since expanded to Europe and Asia to keep up with the need for its service, and now has 52 chaplains trained to offer crisis support to seafarers around the world.

The high level of piracy cases reflects the rise in piracy reported by the International Maritime Bureau for the first six months of this year, which saw 107 actual or attempted attacks, up from 87 in the same period of last year, with Nigeria and Indonesia the main piracy hotspots.

Just this week, 11 seafarers were seized by pirates off the coast of Nigeria. The charity has reached out to the shipping company to offer support.

Sailors’ Society’s CEO Stuart Rivers said, “Piracy, and the fear of piracy, is a massive issue for seafarers.

“Survivors of piracy and kidnappings are exposed to violence and terror, which can have a devastating impact on them and their families for years to come.

“That such a high number of those seeking support from our Crisis Response Network have been affected by the trauma of piracy is sadly not surprising.”

Indonesian fisherman Adi Manurung is one of those to receive support from the CRN.

Adi had been held captive by Somali pirates for almost five years, before being released in October 2016.

He was supported by Sailors’ Society chaplains, who accompanied him on visits to the psychiatrist, provided counselling to him and his family and provided financial support.

Adi said, “I thought that I would die. There was no hope.”