The boss of a Bermudian-based tanker company has supported calls by an international shipping body for governments to eradicate piracy and allow for the change of crews stuck at sea.

Herbjorn Hansson, founder, chairman and CEO of Nordic American Tankers Ltd, wrote to shareholders and investors to say that he supported the efforts of the Denmark-based international shipping association Bimco, which he said has members representing 60 per cent of the world’s commercial fleet measured in lightweight.

Mr Hansson wrote: “It has publicised a strong appeal to governments, saying that ‘Governments need to take action to eradicate piracy and allow us to change crews so that we can keep the world supplied and get them home safely’.”

He added: “There are more than one million men and women working on ships sailing across the globe. In September 2020, an estimated 400,000 requiring repatriation were stranded at sea due to the pandemic.

“The same year, 135 members of crew were kidnapped from their ships.

“Bimco says that governments need to act now. The seafarers deserve support.

“Nordic American Tankers is a member of Bimco, which has about 2,000 members in 120 countries.

“As founder, chairman and CEO of NAT, I strongly support this important appeal on behalf of all the men and women on our ships who are doing such an important job.”