DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company announce third international counter piracy conference
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, global ports operator DP World and Abu Dhabi Ports Company (ADPC) announce they are co-convening the third international counterpiracy conference in Dubai on 11-12 September, said in the company's press release. Their joint hosting of the conference demonstr ates the vital importance of public and private sector coordination in the fight against maritime piracy both on and off shore.
More than 500 participants comprising foreign ministers , senior government officials , executives of global maritime - sector companies, and leading experts will convene for the two - day event entitled: Countering Maritime Piracy: Continued Efforts for Regional Capacity Building . Building capacity in the region includes addressing piracy in the short term through effective secur ity initiatives, including coordination between international navies and merchant vessels, and longer term initiatives that support the development of local economies.
The humanitarian impact of piracy on seafarers and their families continues to be a fo cus, and a highlight of this year’s conference will be a discussion with Captain Juwaid Saleem , a former captive of pirates in Somalia , and his family , who will share their experiences . Captain Juwaid and his crew were held for more than two years and his two daughters featured in a documentary premiered at last year’s conference highlighting the humanitarian cost of piracy, when he was still a prisoner. He and seven of his crew were released six weeks after the 2012 conference; the remaining 15 crew members are still missing in Somalia.
Key themes of the conference will include:
- Continuing to build awareness of the humanitarian and economic cost of piracy, including support for seafarers ;
- Injecting new momentum in the search for an effective and enduring solution to piracy through collaboration across political, military , financial and legal sectors;
- Encouraging a comprehensive approach that can deliver a long term sustainable solution to counter piracy, including land - based solutions ;
- Highlighting cooperation between industry and government sectors through joint strategies emphasising sustainable long - term solutions.
