In recent years nearly 5000 seafarers have been hijacked and detained for months often in appalling conditions, while thousands of others have been the victims of a pirate attack. Given these numerous concerns, a pan-industry alliance of ship owners, unions, managers, manning agents, insurers and shipping- and welfare associations (maritime, labour, faith or secular) has come together to establish the "Maritime Piracy: a Humanitarian Response Programme" (MPHRP). The objectives of this Programme address the three phases of "pre-, during and post-incident", with the aim of implementing a model of assisting seafarers and their families with the humanitarian aspects of a traumatic incident caused by a piracy attack, armed robbery or being taken hostage.