Maritime Piracy

A closer look at a sophisticated issue

What is Piracy?

• Hijacking/detention of a ship 
• Typically an act of robbery or violence 
• Occurs globally 
• Has seen a resurgence in the last 15 years

Why does piracy occur?

• Weak/nonexistent governments are unable to combat it
• Regional stability is poor
• High amounts of commerce circulate through the area
• Undefended container ships and fishing vessels are easy targets 

What are the goals of pirates?

• Often kidnap crew of targeted ships for ransom
• Steal cargo or entire vessels
• Make $30,000 to $75,000 per hijacking
• Money is put towards personal use and future attacks

What are the costs of piracy?

• Costs billions of dollars annually
• Forces companies off shore
• Destabilizes  developing regions
• Environmental contamination

How is piracy being combated?

• Naval presence by several countries 
• Private security contractors
• Anti-piracy countermeasures aboard ships 

how effective are these methods?

"The solution to piracy lies in the very nature of piracy itself. The Roman lawmaker Cicero defined piracy as a crime against civilization itself, which English jurist Edward Coke famously rephrased as “hostis humani generis” — enemies of the human race. As such, they were enemies not of one state but of all states, and correspondingly all states shared in the burden of capturing them."

- DOUGLAS R. BURGESS Jr, New York Times