Mphrp News

The International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) is hosting a Security Seminar in London on Thursday, November 10, which will focus on human factors in modern maritime security. Sponsored by Subsea 7 and Technip, the event is a continuation of IMCA's new series of mini-seminars – niche events tailored to tackle specific topics. “The day-long seminar at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel in South Kensington will provide an invaluable opportunity for all concerned to understand the impact of human factors on security in key areas of the offshore marine contracting industry – both in the oil and gas, and renewable energy sectors,” explained Richard Benzie, IMCA’s Technical Director. “It will cover both the global risk to people, and the internal cyber security threat.

Seafarers continue to be the targets of pirates and armed robbers, with around 100 held captive ashore by various groups in different parts of the world at the moment. The training of seafarers, best management practice and hardening of ships has formed part of the response, but companies still need to be well prepared for seafarers being attacked or taken captive. The ISWAN Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme has issued an updated "Good Practice Guide for Shipping Companies and Manning Agents - humanitarian support of seafarers and their families in cases of armed robbery and piracy attack." The guide has been updated with the help of the International Chamber of Shipping…

The boards of the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Program (MPHRP) have informed about the moving of the activities of the MPHRP into ISWAN. A transfer agreement was signed by both parties on August 3, 2015. ISWAN will now be responsible for all the activities of the highly respected MPHRP. The move to ISWAN will enable the program to develop under the auspices of a well-established international seafarers’ welfare organization that is registered as a charity. The program will continue to support the seafarers and their families who are affected by piracy. While piracy attacks off the coast of Somalia have significantly decreased, attacks are on the increase in South East Asia and continuing in the Gulf of Guinea.

The boards of the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) are pleased to announce the moving of the activities of the MPHRP into ISWAN. A transfer agreement was signed by both parties on 3 August 2015. ISWAN will now be responsible for all the activities of the highly respected MPHRP. The move to ISWAN will enable the programme to develop under the auspices of a well-established international seafarers’ welfare organisation that is registered as a charity. The programme will continue to support the seafarers and their families who are affected by piracy.

Chirag Bahri, MPHRP Regional Director for South Asia was invited by Anglo Eastern Maritime Academy in Karjat, India, to interact with the cadets undergoing pre sea training at the prestigious nautical college. During the presentation, Mr Bahri advised seafarers on the attacks in the West Africa region, South East Asian waters and that there is a sharp decrease in attacks in the Indian ocean. He informed them that, by following best management practices, the vessel and its crew have been able to avoid such attacks but that it was vitally important for the seafarers to remain vigilant throughout transit through such waters. The seafarers were also advised that if they are held captive by pirates they should remain united and respect their fellow crew members and maintain hierarchy of rank.

The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Progamme (MPHRP) was launched during the height of maritime piracy to provide humanitarian support to the victims of piracy and their families. The programme received funding from several groups, funding which is set to expire at the end of March. The ITF's (International Transport Workers' Federation) Seafarers' Trust, one of the programme's core sponsors, has pledged to continue funding in a statement released today, but has called for the MPHRP to become part of an existing charity by the end of 2015, citing ISWAN as an example of an optimum home for the programme. Trust funding enabled the MPHRP to make a significant contribution to the welfare support of seafarers…

It is only after some time following traumatic events that mental health complications may surface. Assessment immediately after such events would most probably show signs of the common and perfectly normal after effects of extraordinary life events. While research is scant, all indications are that seafarers respond to trauma as we all do. We are usually quite resilient. We recover over time. Only very few of us experience ongoing symptoms and need some form of mental health care. And even then, we are assured by mental health professionals, post trauma stress is treatable. As persistent symptoms are key, the need for intervention would show itself only after four weeks, at the earliest. The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme offers ongoing support to piracy survivors.

The MPHRP highlights the hardship inflicted upon seafarers and families. Responding to recent reports on current levels of international maritime piracy, the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Program (MPHRP) noted the trend that they appear to avoid the word "piracy" in favor of new forms of criminality, specifically "attacks" and "hijacking". The technical differences denoted by these terms aside, MPHRP said a basic truth is veiled: that violent crime is committed against seafarers.

The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has joined other maritime organisations in expressing concern over the decision to compensate convicted Somali pirates. These criminals have been responsible for taking hostage thousands of seafarers, who were subjected to unprovoked violence and sometimes torture. Some seafarers have also been murdered while carrying out their lawful business on the high seas. Earlier this month, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered France to pay thousands of euros to Somali pirates who had attacked French ships in 2008. The pirates were captured by French military on the Somali coast after they hijacked two French yachts in separate attacks in 2008.

Yesterday, 16th September 2014, Chirag Bahri, MPHRP's Regional Director for South Asia, attended a ceremonial event organised by the Ministry of Shipping, Bangladesh to facilitate financial help to the 7 Bangladeshi crew members of MV Albedo. The event was held at the Ministry of Shipping's office in Secretariat, Dhaka. It was chaired by the Honourable Minister of Shipping, Mr Shahjahan Khan, Mr Shahriar Alam - Honourable Minister of State - Foreign Affairs, Secretary of Shipping, Rear Admiral Khurshed Alam - Secretary of Maritime Affairs - Foreign Affairs, Commodore M Zakiur Rahman Bhuiyan - Director General of Shipping, Chirag Bahri - MPHRP Regional Director South Asia and other distinguished guests from the Department of Shipping…

Since MPHRP started their Programme they have discovered that seafarers are resilient people. Also the ones who were attacked by pirates, taken hostage or captured. Most of them went back to sea after a period of recovering from the trauma. They were assisted by their families and friends and only a few needed extra counseling or therapy. Very few decided, for obvious reasons, to look for another job ashore. However, a small number of seafarers faced greater problems of getting re-employed. After a period of more than 1000 days in captivity, companies were very reluctant to offer them jobs. Fear of the risk that they would not be able to act as professional seafarers kept them ashore. No-one can predict the future and that uncertainty kept those survivors jobless.

Professor Neil Greenberg of March on Stress at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, visited the Philippines to assess the competencies of mental healthcare providers who assist MPHRP in supporting seafarers and families after piracy. The visit also provided an opportunity for Professor Greenberg to meet with the MPHRP regional team based in Manila to share knowledge and experience. Professor Greenberg met with five organisations. The interviews were aimed to ask questions about the various standards that are required to run a mental healthcare / psychotherapy service in the UK according to a Core Standards document which has been developed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

An Indian Master, Capt Sukhvinder Bhamra, was sailing onboard the MSC Vanessa when he received an email from Mr Abdul Gani Serang of the National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) on the hardships faced by Mr Aman Sharma, recently released from captivity as part of the MV Albedo crew. The Master and his crew started to collect money amongst the crew members of the ship. When he signed off, Capt Bhamra called Mr Sharma and informed him that he will try to collect about INR100,000 (USD1,650) from his ship's crew and will help him in the coming days. Mr Sharma has since received the first of this support: INR30,000 (USD500). MPHRP would like to sincerely thank Captain Bhamra and his crew for their heartfelt and generous donations.

A two-day Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Awareness Campaign updated the seafarer public in Luneta Park, Manila of MPHRP’s programmes and services led by MPHRP Regional Director for Philippines/Southeast Asia Rancho Villavicencio and MPHRP Assistant Programme Director Hennie la Grange, July 23-24. In partnership with SEACOMS Maritime Development International, Inc., the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme Philippines held its awareness campaign for the second time in Manila where a seafarer crowd was gathered to be informed of the programme’s existence and how MPHRP assists piracy survivors and their families locally.

Few people are as devoted to seafarers’ wellbeing as MPHRP’s partners, which include the members of the International Seafarers Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and the International Christian Maritime Association (ICMA). With that in mind, MPHRP embarked upon a training initiative devised in collaboration with both ICMA and ISWAN. Based upon research and extensive shared experience, the training engages port chaplains, seafarers’ centres, other shore-based welfare providers to seafarers and community carers in home countries, ensuring that we reach seafarers in ports and in their home locations before and immediately after piracy and post repatriation.

Dryad Maritime gives warning of increasing SE Asia piracy. The warning results from the release of their Q2 figures, containing data that shows the area experiences the highest number of maritime crime incidents in 2014 in comparison with other traditional piracy hot spots. The warning comes in the wake of the most recent hijack of a tanker, (MT Moresby 9), off the Anambas Islands on July 4. Pirates boarded the vessel, taking the crew hostage before stealing part of the 2,200-metric-ton cargo of Marine Gas Oil (MGO). The vessel location is still unknown.

The International Transport Federation (ITF) informs that 11 seafarers held hostage by Somali pirates for over three and a half years have finally been released, with the prospect of seeing their families once more after what is described as a 'terrible ordeal'. The seven Bangladeshi, two Sri Lankan, one Indian and one Iranian hostage were among the 23 crew on the Malaysian-owned and flagged containership Albedo when it was hijacked by Somali pirates on 26 November 2010 while 900 nautical miles off Somalia. One Indian seafarer died in captivity, and seven Pakistani crew members were released in July 2012. With the remaining hostages still on board and held captive in Somali waters, the Albedo became increasingly unseaworthy and sank in a heavy storm in July 2013.

The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) has welcomed the release and safe return of the remaining crew from the MV Albedo. Commenting on their arrival into Kenya on 7 June 20124MPHRP chair Peter Swift said, “After 1288 days in captivity we are delighted for them and their families after the terrible ordeal and hardship that they have suffered. “The generous support of MPHRP’s partners and friends, together with the extensive groundwork and cooperation of the UNODC and others, helped to facilitate the release of the 7 Bangladeshi, 2 Sri Lankan, 1 Indian and I Iranian crew members after they had been abandoned by the owner and with no direct support forthcoming from other parties.

Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Program (MPHRP) South Asia organized three Seafarers Pre-Departure Piracy Awareness Train the Trainers sessions in India between October 16-23, 2013. The training was delivered by Toon van de Sande (MPHRP), Cyrus Mody (IMB) and Chirag Bahri (MPHRP), held in at the Seafarers Club, Chennai on 16-17 Oct, AEMTC Mumbai on 19-20 Oct and at Hotel Mantra Amaltas, New Delhi on October 22-23. Participants from maritime training institutes and other training consultants attended the two-day MPHRP sessions.

Photo update: sunken MV Albedo lifeboats sighted from the air on Somali beach. An EU Naval Force warship and Maritime Patrol Aircraft closed the scene to search for survivors. During the aerial search, EU Naval Force Maritime Patrol Aircraft sighted two life boats on a Somali beach approximately 14 miles north of the position of the Albedo. No members of the MV Albedo crew or pirates were sighted in or near the lifeboats. "MV Albedo sank during the night on Saturday 6 July 2013. The vessel had been held by armed Somali Pirates since 12 November 2010.

The Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Program (MPHRP) and its partners in the industry-wide coalition established to assist seafarers and their families with the humanitarian aspects of piracy incidents have welcomed the news of the release of the 22 crew members on the Iceberg 1 after 1000 days in captivity in Somalia. “We are greatly relieved to hear that they are safe after their terrible ordeal” said Peter Swift, Chairman of MPHRP, “and to hear that that they will soon be returning to their homes. It has also been wonderful to hear the expressions of joy and happiness from their families as the news of their release reached them.

A program to help seafarers and families cope with the physical and mental trauma caused by torture and abuse at the hands of pirates launches today in London, England. Pirates are routinely using extreme brutality and the threat of death against seafarers and their relatives. The new Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Program (MPHRP) is intended to help those seafarers and their families cope with the resulting pain and anguish. Funded by the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) Seafarers’ Trust charity and The TK Foundation, and chaired by Peter Swift, formerly MD of industry body INTERTANKO, the new program speaks for an alliance of shipowners…