The Catholic Church has given its strong backing to a programme aimed at preventing and dealing with the damage done by piracy on the high seas.
Launched at the London Maritime museum in the Docklands, the Maritime Piracy Humanitarian Response Programme (MPHRP) is backed by the Church, ship owners, ship managers, manning agents, trade unions, insurers and welfare associations along with inter-governmental organisations.The guides and support provided are intended to help prevent piracy in the first place and deal with those who have been traumatised after being caught up in an attack. There is a focus on the families of captives who often suffer in silence and are not told what is going on. There are also links to specialist care and a 24-hour helpline provided.
The resources include good practice guides for ship owners, manning agents and welfare associations on pre-departure, during a crisis and post incident help.
Dr Peter Swift, chairman of the steering group for MPHRP, pointed out that every day of the week there are 100,000 seafarers sailing in or out of pirate infested waters. There are another 500,000 family members of these seafarers suffering the anxiety of not knowing what might be happening to their loved ones.
Some 4,000 people have been detained by pirates over the past eight years, with 277 being held at present.
Piracy costs £12bn a year, though that figure would be larger if the costs of ships now taking routes to avoid likely piracy around countries like Somalia were taken into account.
The network that the Catholic Church can provide with its chaplains and other support networks has a key part in the new network of support.
Fr Bruno Ciceri, from the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples, highlighted how the Church's network made it uniquely placed to support not only those who have been taken but also to link with the families.
Fr Ciceri said there was often a problem with getting the names of those who have been captured from ship owners, making it difficult for chaplains to let families know what has happened. "Sometimes we have to call on other specialists but we in the Catholic Church want to walk alongside families and seafarers," said Fr Ciceri, who said another problem arose with ships being attacked but no hostages being taken.
"They know they will have to go through that same area again, which causes problems," said Fr Ciceri.
Martin Foley, director of the Apostleship of the Sea in the UK, praised the initiative and expressed his delight that AoS was involved.
"It is important to recognise that chaplains are in the frontline of support for the victims of piracy," said Mr Foley. "It is important to remember that for the families, if they are Christian, the first port of call will be the Church. It is important that we understand the challenges faced both spiritually and practically."
An estimated 1,500 pirates have been captured around Somalia but most seem to have been quickly released to continue attacking ships.
The launch of the programme heard that proper sanctions needed to be taken against the pirates, with the a more robust approach taken by the Indian Government and its navy singled out for praise.
Mr Foley said the UN should take the lead in terms of enforcement against piracy with those guilty brought before a court, tried and punished.