Shipowners’ associations of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Shipping Federation (ISF) have urged navies to authorise a legal mandate to immobilise pirate motherships and provide up-to-date information on their location to shipping, Exim News Service reports.

The rising incidents of daily attacks and growing number of seafarers held hostage—600—is leading many shipping lines to avoid Indian Ocean sea lanes. A legal mandate would help to minimise incidents and drive the piracy activity back to the Somali coast, said the two owners’ associations, which are to merge in June.

An international mandate, plus domestic legislation to include full criminalisation of all acts of piracy, including "intent to commit", would end the absurd situation of releasing Somali pirates once caught, said the owners.

"Diverting ships will have serious geopolitical implications and greatly damage the economies in the region," the ICS/ISF joint communiqué said.