THE OTHER CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

A Christmas pirate boat bonfire

For over a year now NAUTICAL LOG has added a message about our fellow seafarers held captive by pirates off the coast of Somalia at the close of each Post. We at NAUTICAL LOG had hoped when we started the practice that other Maritime Blogs would join in. Somewhat to our surprise and certainly to our disappointment this has not happened - we really do not understand why it has not.

However there is a website for EUNAVFOR which patrols the Horn of Africa and it is worth a visit. There is an article there about the seafarers held captive and how very little has been done for them, also that 60 have died in captivity, more are missing their fate unknown.

We at NAUTICAL LOG will continue to add our reminding message at the end of each Post during the coming year 2012 to draw attention to our fellow seafarers plight. We shall also be commencing a letter writing campaign to the Governments of the EU, India and China to encourage and request that in spite of the high risk to those held captive by the pirates action to rescue them should be taken. The captives are not living their lives but existing in deplorable conditions, it would seem the risks involved in a rescue attempt may well be worth it.

Good Watch

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