Terror On High Seas: Disturbing Rise in Pirate Attacks

Terror On High Seas: Disturbing Rise in Pirate Attacks
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Author Note
Abstract
Modern sea pirates are on the rise. However, contrary to customary beliefs that they only rob sea vessels, recent maritime piracy incidences have extended to more violent casualties. Moreover, besides the typical hostility towards the crew and/or passengers of the vessel, their effect has taken toll over economic boundaries, particularly involving maritime trade, insofar as it affects at a global-scale. Pirate attacks are most common near countries suffering from challenging circumstances which usually stems from dubious political administration. The most prominent in the list of enduring pirate territories is of Somalia where economic progress is slow. Therefore, social disorganization and desperation are the common roots for piracy. This study then aims to explore the complications involved with the upsurge of piracy in the 21st century; in particular, the articulate process involved and its significant impact over maritime transactions. The research encompasses gathering statistics and reports of recent pirate incidences as well as analyzing the pirates` most common to the most scrupulous course of action. This research then concludes by depicting the probable future of piracy throughout the world in reference to anti-piracy programs launched by various international statutory organizations.
Terror On High Seas: Disturbing Rise in Pirate Attacks
Not surprisingly, when the term "piracy" is mentioned, the first impression that comes to mind is Black Beard, mermaid ships, men with wooden legs or eye-patches or a hook for hand, and so on. However, in its literal sense, piracy stands for violence on the high seas CITATION Ali04 \l 1033 (Koknar, 2004); correspondingly, pirates are referred to as bandits at sea. The idea of pirates existing today for real is rather incredulous; after all, it is quite bizarre to find pirates in the 21st century where its very concept appears to apply only in fairytales. Nevertheless, recent reports have reached such an alarming rate and more importantly, increased casualties that it has been pronounced as a serious threat to global concerns; for instance, the economic burden resulting from these attacks.
Though piracy has been understood for the most part as simply violent encounters in the sea, it doesn`t necessarily stop there. Therefore, to make clear, the International Marine Bureau defines piracy as "an act of boarding (or attempted boarding) with the intent to commit theft or any other crime and with the intent or capability to use force in furtherance of that act". However, despite this clarification, piracy is still often compared to maritime terrorism; in point of fact, both are considerably different from one another in that maritime terrorism in itself is "the use or threat of violence against a ship (civilian as well as military), its passengers or sailors, cargo, a port facility, or if the purpose is solely a platform for political ends" CITATION Mar11 \l 1033 (Maritime Terrorism Research Center, 2011). Furthermore, an attack in the sea is considered "piracy" if and only if the state in whose territorial waters has had the attack will address it as such; otherwise, the crime would only be regarded as armed robbery against ships CITATION Mar11 \l 1033 (Maritime Terrorism Research Center, 2011). Nevertheless, these do not change the fact that actual piracy is rampant nowadays.
And being as it is the 21st century and more resources being available for exploitation, the way of the pirates have indeed evolved. In general, there are three ways by which modern pirates are categorized: (1) the low-life scum; (2) the sophisticated organized crime group; and (3) the "semi-official military pirate" CITATION Mic05 \l 1033 (McDaniel, 2005).
First off, there`s that standard issue low-level bandit who makes no use of any comprehensive strategies or tools; they are usually those who are reckless and ruthless - pirates who would rather take a finger off instead of simply getting the ring off of it.
Then there is the sophisticated organized crime group. Piracy over time had come to mature into a branch of organized crime and in some cases they are associated with political or terrorist groups CITATION Ali04 \l 1033 (Koknar, 2004). Additionally, their access to technological equipment is apparently extensive. As well, their strategic methods of seizing a vessel are all the more ingenious and meticulous.
According to the IMB, the most sophisticated and dangerous form of piracy involves schemes to reap insurance dollars by way of what is known as the ‘phantom ship' phenomenon …21st century pirates employ a variety of modern information technologies to support their attacks and are adept with operating the necessary high tech communications equipment, such as GPS, satellite phones and military hardware (Anouk, Z. 2008). Transmitting a false SOS alarm to disrupt maritime traffic is also a common tactic, as is carrying out most attacks at nighttime. Intelligence gathering is critical for pirates and they are willing to pay considerable sums to this end. CITATION Nur09 \l 1033 (ECE, 2009)
And finally, there is what McDaniel (2005) calls the "semi-official military pirate". These are officials, commonly coastguards, who act with deceit and greed; hence, their likeness to pirates. An illustration would be that of a Chinese coastguard patrol supposedly acting on routine inspections and inviting international cargo ships into territorial waters and then accusing them of smuggling goods; such is an instance similar to the M/V Hye Mieko`s plight (July 2006).
In any event, pirates attack from two angles; that is, (1) robbery or hijacking, in which the aim is either to take over the maritime vessel itself or take its cargo instead; and (2) kidnap for ransom, in which the vessel and crew are threatened unless their request (ransom) has been granted CITATION UNO10 \l 1033 (UNODC, 2010). Both are typical scenarios throughout the history of piracy, up until now when recent incidences, particularly those in Somalia, have resulted to the death of four Americans CITATION CBS11 \l 1033 (CBS, 2011).
In point of fact, modern piracy has never before been heard until 1994 when the Far Eastern Economic Review of Hong Kong revealed the indeed piracy is back CITATION Sil06 \l 1033 (Galletti, 2006). Incidentally, many people thought this phenomenon would go by unnoticed; however, reported encounters of pirate attacks are well on the rise since the mid 90`s - and there are still those which have not been accounted for due to certain trepidations the victims believe might arise. Such trepidations emerge mainly from two factors:
(1) the increase in insurance premiums often outweigh the value of the claim for smaller attacks; and (2) Reporting a piracy attack is often time-consuming can lead to a delay of several days. Keeping in mind the running sunk costs of an idle ship (up to $25,000 per day), in many, especially smaller cases, it is cheaper not to report the incident." CITATION Mar11 \l 1033 (Maritime Terrorism Research Center, 2011)
Hotspots for maritime terrorism and piracy incidents cover Southeast Asia, Africa, Middle East, Europe, and Central; this is according to IMB`s 1990-2006 statistic reports on criminal activities across the sea CITATION UNO10 \l 1033 (UNODC, 2010). Meanwhile, common targets for sea pirates are merchant vessels CITATION Cha05 \l 1033 (Sector, 2005), particularly those carrying valuable cargo which includes oil, natural gas, and other articles of equal value. Then again, civilian ships are found to be of valuable as well. Cruise ships are especially considered as prestigious targets; apparently, pirates have this perception that cruise ships carry wealthy people. However, civilian vessels are not only just seen as targets but moreover as potential weapons by pirates with political or terrorist bias CITATION Ali04 \l 1033 (Koknar, 2004).
Pirates usually work in bands but go after different targets, said Abhyankar. Some will go after any boat -- a yacht, a cruise liner or a barge -- hoping to find some good loot like the sea-faring guerrillas in Somalia. Some will hijack ships simply for the cargo while others will attack a boat to kidnap the crew in the hopes of a hefty ransom. Boats represent "easy pickings," especially off the coast of lawless countries like Somalia or in places where maritime security is weak, he said. CITATION Cha05 \l 1033 (Sector, 2005)
Piracy in the first place was believed to have decline during the 19th century. Now, however, there are certain factors which have made it possible for this transgression to escalate once more. These reasons encompass advances in technology, reduced number of navies guarding the open seas, poor government administration or political corruption, refusal of some victims to report due to monetary and political concerns, the willingness of some to pay ransom, and failure to develop security strategies and patrol vessels due to cost-saving tactics and the uncertainty of where the next attack will take place CITATION Leo08 \l 1033 (Meijden, 2008).
What`s more is that contrary to what Hollywood had us believe, the instant impression of a ‘pirate` being a figure wearing "…a battered coat and tricorne hat, festooned with weaponry and seeming as if he could fillet you with his cutlass as soon as look at you" CITATION Ang08 \l 1033 (Konstam, 2008) is far from the harsh characters that they are in reality. In truth, real-life pirates are capable of committing heinous crimes; such as recorded in the 1998 statistics which includ...