Rachel Chandler News

Foreign Office Minister Henry Bellingham's speech to the British Chamber of Shipping on the UK Government’s response to counter-piracy. One of the most important duties of a Government is to protect UK citizens, both at home and abroad. In the networked world of the 21st century, insecurity in pockets of the world ripples outwards and the impact can be felt here at home. Africa is a long way from the UK. But the crimes committed on the high seas off the coast of Somalia and off the coast of West Africa have a direct impact on the UK’s security, prosperity and the lives of British people.

The world’s independent tanker owners, INTERTANKO and its Members and Associate Members, are pleased that Paul and Rachel Chandler have been freed from captivity after more than a year of being held by Somali pirates, and amidst a wave of delighted media euphoria. Regrettably there are more than 530 seafarers currently held by Somali pirate gangs and more than 800 have been captured this year alone and forcibly detained for periods of up to 180 days. Since the first pirate hijacking in the Gulf of Aden/Arabian, more than 2,500 seafarers have been taken and forced at gunpoint into captivity. Hundreds of seafarers are risking their freedom every day to allow ships to keep moving through this busy international marine corridor linking West with East…