Ship industry says anti-piracy efforts lacking

Ship industry says anti-piracy efforts lacking    The Somali teenager who was captured after helping to hijack the U.S.-flag Maersk Alabama last year pleaded guilty Tuesday in New York to charges of seizing the ship by force, kidnapping and hostage taking.
   The teen but could escape life in prison after prosecutors dropped formal piracy charges, according the Agence France-Presse news agency.
   The news came as Intertanko, the organization representing the tanker industry, called for renewed efforts by governments to bring pirates to justice and prevent them from being released after their capture.
   The industry group expressed frustration with the expanded zone of pirate activity further into the Indian Ocean, and said governments need to increase their legal authority to arrest, detain and prosecute pirates for violating international law. It also asked for increased naval protection of sea lanes in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and for less restrictive rules of engagement so that naval forces can stop more pirate threats to commercial shipping.
   Meanwhile, Intertanko joined with seafarer unions, insurers and other ship owners' associations to create a global electronic petition demanding governments commit necessary resources to stop piracy originating in Somalia.
   The campaign begins Thursday and organizers hope to collect a half-million signatures by the International Maritime Organization's World Maritime Day on Sept. 23.
   The petition drive also seeks more efforts to secure the safe release of crewmembers taken hostage by pirates and create a stable political system in Somalia.
   The groups said seafarers are being exposed to unacceptable risk of injury or death and that shipping companies face increased costs for security, fuel to bypass the region or payment of ransom to secure the release of vessels and crews.
   Abduwali Abdukhadir Muse was captured by U.S. Navy Seals last May during the rescue of Maersk Alabama's captain, Richard Phillips, during which two other pirates were killed.
   He faces 27 to 34 years in prison, based on sentencing guidelines. Kidnapping and hostage-taking can also lead to life sentences, but such punishment is not mandatory as it is with a piracy conviction.
   Sentencing was set for Oct. 18. ' Eric Kulisch