Proceedings magazine is a communication tool for the Coast Guard's Marine Safety & Security Council. Each quarterly magazine focuses on a specific theme of interest to the marine industry.
Issue link: https://uscgproceedings.epubxp.com/i/57858
We then proposed, among other things, that the maritime industry should conduct a comprehensive study of the effects of piracy on seafarers, and prepare guidelines for ship owners on caring for seafarers who have experienced pirate attacks. The Industry Responds In 2008, the United Nations Security Coun- cil adopted several resolutions addressing piracy off the coast of Somalia. The Contact Group on Piracy off the Coast of Soma- lia, then comprised of 24 nations, several international organizations, and maritime industry representatives, was established to facilitate and coordinate efforts imple- menting Security Council Resolution 1851. Additionally, a coalition of maritime indus- try organizations developed "Best Manage- ment Practices to Deter Piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off the Coast of Somalia," and more than 25 countries have sent naval units to waters off Soma- lia to support anti-piracy measures. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) also updated its guide- OLQHV IRU ÁDJ VWDWHV DQG VKLS RSHUDWRUV RQ SUHYHQWLQJ and suppressing acts of piracy. Care for Mariners While this industry-wide response has been robust, scant attention was given to providing for those sea- farers and their families who had been affected by the scourge of piracy. We responded by presenting a reso- lution to the International Christian Maritime Associ- ation (ICMA), a world-wide ecumenical organization of church-based seafarers' agencies. In October 2008, the ICMA adopted a resolution that pledged its mem- bers' cooperation in accomplishing the piracy initia- tives, including our proposals to provide support to the seafarers and their families affected by piracy. We then prepared a paper for ICMA to present to the International Maritime Organization's Marine Safety Committee containing the ICMA resolution and not- ing that nations, international organizations, and the maritime industry must continue their efforts to prevent and suppress acts of piracy. In addition, the ICMA asked governments, international organiza- tions, non-governmental organizations, and the mari- time industry to devote more attention to the effects RI SLUDF\ RQ VHDIDUHUV DQG WKHLU IDPLOLHV³VSHFLÀFDOO\ to study the effects of piracy on survivors and to pre- pare guidelines on caring for seafarers from a health perspective. www.uscg.mil/proceedings 'U 0LFKDHO *DU¿QNOH LQWHUYLHZV VHDIDUHUV IRU 6&,¶V FOLQLFDO VWXG\ )RFXVLQJ RQ 3LUDF\ 6SHFLÀF 7UDXPD Although many studies have examined the effects of WUDXPDWLF HYHQWV RQ SROLFH ÀUHÀJKWHUV WKH PLOLWDU\ and others, nothing had been published on the spe- FLÀF HIIHFWV RI SLUDF\ RQ VHDIDUHUV 7KHUH ZDV DQ REYL- ous need to complete a clinical study of the psycho- logical impact of pirate attacks on seafarers that takes into account the unique nature of seafaring, including its multicultural nature. The results of such a study would help determine how best to care for seafarers who survived a pirate attack. The Marine Safety Committee considered the paper in May 2009, and the IMO put seafarer issues on the front burner of the piracy agenda. Governments and the maritime industry also began a number of new initiatives directed at caring for seafarers. SCI responded in August 2009, by launching, in con- junction with the Disaster Psychiatry Outreach at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, a multi-year FOLQLFDO VWXG\ 'U 0LFKDHO *DUÀQNOH LV OHDGLQJ WKLV study, which is exploring the clinical assessment and treatment of seafarers affected by piracy. This clinical study seeks to identify unique stressors of piracy hostage situations, along with immediate and ongoing medical evaluation strategies for crew- members and their families. Study outcomes include plans for clinically assessing seafarers after piracy incidents, assisting families during prolonged piracy episodes, and triaging short- and long-term mental Spring 2012 Proceedings 61