Obama piracy order ‘unhelpful,’ ship owner groups say

A U.S. presidential order that may criminalize ransom payments to pirates in Somalia is “unhelpful,” according to groups representing most of the world’s shipowners. “The U.S. does not appreciate the potentially life- threatening impact of the order on the lives of over 250 seafarers currently being held captive,” the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Shipping Federation said today in a joint newsletter.