THE release of the Hansa Stavanger after four months being held hostage is a welcome relief for the 24 crew on board, their families and everyone at Leonhardt & Blumberg, the vessel’s owners.
While inevitably shaken by their experience, the crew are said to be uninjured and in good health. With the support of their employers, we can only hope that everyone involved in this ordeal can put this ugly experience behind them and move on. Not everyone is that lucky.
What happens to the millions of dollars handed over to pirates is something of a mystery due to the underwhelming lack of co-ordinated intelligence on this issue, but the same sadly also remains true for many of the crew caught up in hijack situations.
We know good shipowners who have looked after their crew in the aftermath of a hijack and provided everything they need and more. There are many seafarers out there, however, who have not had the same level of support after an attack.
Anecdotal evidence suggests there may be issues for flag states to address here but because of the confidential deals that are struck following a hostage situation, we have no idea what has happened to many crew.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation is now rightly concerned that without some co-ordinated action from flag states, many crew caught up in hostage situations are facing additional problems after release.
Government action to stamp out piracy is one thing but shipowners and flag states also have a moral duty of care to their employees that deserves a far more robust system of support for seafarers in the aftermath of a hijack.
