I refer to the Malaysiakini report Somali pirates vow revenge after dramatic rescue.

I write to express my great relief at the successful rescue effort of Capt Richard Phillips, the Master of the MV Maersk Alabama, from the clutches of the Somalian pirates by the US Navy Seals unit.

Indeed, it was a delicate attempt at hostage-rescue that ended well, unlike the earlier effort by the French on a yacht that resulted in a tragedy due to the loss of the life of one hostage.

Hopefully, now that a maritime asset of the US has been violently abused by these pirates, with the senior-most officer being taken hostage for close to five days before being released, the world at large will take a more serious view of the great risks faced by innocent seafarers.

They have been duly trained to face the wrath of Almighty God in terms of wind and weather, but not to handle the aberrations that are linked to pirate attacks.

Somalia and the waters around it have become a haven for these dastardly attacks by pirates. Many ships have been overpowered, much money has been paid for their release and great anguish has been caused to numerous families whose loved ones, in choosing to pursue a career of courage, became pawns of these greedy marauders.

The United Nations has consented to attacks in pursuant of the release of hijacked ships being undertaken even on land for the purpose of uprooting and annihilating these pirates, but, alas, to date no such drastic action has been taken.

It is not for want of identifying their lairs, nor for obstacles associated with sending in the troops, but, perhaps, more so due to lack of political will.

Let us hope that now, with the pirates directly threatening a US-flagged vessel and with a horrendous hostage-taking situation, the ‘most-powerful-nation-in-the-world' will be more than pliant to consider truly effective action towards annihilating, once and for all, this scourge of piracy on the high seas.

Many countries have already voluntarily sent their naval ships to waters off Somalia as a pre-emptive anti-hijack precaution.

Unfortunately, in my mind, unless the coastal villages and land-based stations from which these pirates operate are totally destroyed and made inoperative as a support base, the threat of piracy shall remain.

On behalf of my fellow seafarers, may I beseech the world at large to work in unison and do whatever necessary to ensure that the officers and crew on board merchant ships are able to carry out their noble tasks of ferrying cargoes all over the globe with peace of mind.

We are meant for enhancing world trade, never as a fighting unit to stave off plunderers at sea.