Global Trading: The Threat of Piracy on the High Seas

Global Trading: The Threat of Piracy on the High Seas Student`s Name: Professor`s Name: Course Name: Due Date: Abstract Piracy affects the contemporary society as it leads to great loss and damage to global economy and trade. Buccaneers have acted with boldness as they exploit the nation`s and global community`s inactive state. With numerous global goods, particularly essentials such as fuel and oil, traveling through shipping lanes, the risk of piracy cannot be disregarded. It remains a contemporary threat because of several factors, mainly because it is difficult to catch buccaneers because they effortlessly escape espial and capture in the world`s vast oceans. Many nations, including the giant naval powers have no resources to keep every square mile of water constantly under surveillance. Piracy can be reduced if there is bigger political will to prevent it and if there is better cooperation and coordination between the countries involved or affected. This paper discusses the threat of piracy on the high seas and its impact on global trading. Key Words: Piracy, Global Trading, Security, Crime Global Trading: The Threat of Piracy on the High Seas Introduction Piracy affects the contemporary society as it leads to great loss and damage to global economy and trade. Buccaneers have acted with boldness as they exploit the nation`s and global community`s inactive state. With numerous global goods, particularly essentials such as fuel and oil, traveling through shipping lanes, the risk of piracy cannot be disregarded. It remains a contemporary threat because of several factors, mainly because it is difficult to catch buccaneers because they effortlessly escape espial and capture in the world`s vast oceans. Many nations, including the giant naval powers have no resources to keep every square mile of water constantly under surveillance. Piracy can be reduced if there is bigger political will to prevent it and if there is better cooperation and coordination between the countries involved or affected (Geiss & Petrig, 2011). Organizational Security Risk Exposure The perception that armed guards pose more threat as compared to a safeguard cannot be disregarded. For instance, if ships are carrying volatile goods such as oil, firing can lead to a very bad explosion. Another security risk exposure is that host nations cannot be ready to welcome armed noncitizens moving into their sovereign land (Berlatsky, 2010). Cost-effective Mitigation Strategies Somalia`s neighbors, the African Union and the global community can choose from various options to cut down the perils of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and off Somali coast. 1 Organizing shipping into ‘protected` lanes. A set route ought to enable global forces in the area to keep an eye on shipping and act in response to distress calls. However, an identified lane could provide a better target for buccaneers. The global community ought to understand that even if attacks reduce, the threat will remain. In addition, efforts should be in place to make sure that Somalia attains political stability. 2 Provision of armed service for Somalia. When there is no dependable and long-term Somali government, no other administrative body can be able to offer effective coast guard services. A globally sanctioned and administered Somali coast guard would be the best strategy. This can be managed by the African Union or UN funded externally. 3 Naval presence. This is a simple and straight forward proposal. Deployment of multinational naval force along the Somali coast and in the Gulf of Aden will combat or reduce piracy. Larger committed navy will most likely bring down the prevalence of piracy. This strategy looks more realistic. 4 Paying no ransoms. The shipping industry suggested this option. If ransom payments stop, the motivators of piracy would reduce. However, pirates would change their tactics, such as creating phantom ships and capturing ships, whereby the stolen ships are re-registered and used to steal cargoes or transport stolen cargoes. Another disadvantage is that non-payment could lead to loss of life. Another strategy is to deflate prices (paying less than what is demanded by pirates). 5 Doing nothing. This implies accepting political stability inside Somalia as the only solution. The global community may find that an effort to settle conflict will be cheaper than mitigating the risks of high seas piracy. This will impact the global economy positively e.g. by avoiding the risk of rising oil prices. Recovery Strategies According to Yonah and Richardson (2009), the International Maritime Organization`s (IMO) demands Automatic Identification System (AIS) to be fitted aboard global sailing ships with 300 or more tons gross tonnage (GT), in spite of size. Over 40,000 ships presently bear AIS class A equipment. This helps in locating a ship and enhancing tracking capabilities. There has to be provision of high sea security services, sufficient training of crew and proper equipment to carry out recovery exercise. Early warning, C3I systems, detection systems, onboard intrusion alarms and sensors all assist in times of distress. Ship-borne means of threat mitigation and deterrence such as power boats, helicopter, non-lethal and lethal weapons are very helpful in recovery. In addition, cooperation with global partners to take severe measures on pirate bases and reducing incentives associated with piracy is more effectual than the effort of one nation. Furthermore, partnering with the insurance industry and shippers can be utilized in an effort to enhance self-defense mechanisms.  Information Security According to Gilpin (2009), even though many pirate rings look for opportunity targets, the most prosperous gangs obtain ship information (capacity, defenses, ship routing, crew and cargo) from government officials or port. Equipped with the critical information, they waylay to carry out a coordinated attack. This information gathering and reconnaissance aids in reducing operating costs and concentrate on the efforts of the buccaneers. Personnel Security The security personnel may collude with the pirates. By doing so, it will be hard to investigate piracy incidents. Ship companies` employees may also be involved in hijacking to get some payments from the pirates. In general, personnel security implies high seas criminal acts associated with personnel. Physical Security This is entails the safety of the vessel and the crew. The crew may include passengers, staff or security personnel. When a ship is captured by pirates, the security personnel may decide to shoot at the pirates, who in return may return fire. The impact of the battle may lead to the sinking of the ship or shooting of the crew. Worse would be if the ship explodes because of the fuel it is carrying. The life of sea organisms as well as the crew is endangered (Kraska, 2011). Planning Approaches to Prevent Business Losses Commercial ships moving through the Gulf of Aden and Bab-el-Mandeb have reacted to rising risks by fortifying their own security. It is expensive, though beefing security is simple. Armed guards tend to be effective impediments for Somali pirates, who could await more vulnerable target given the high number of vessels travelling through the waters. Insurance companies also help to cover for losses brought about by piracy (Berlatsky, 2010). Traditional Criminal Justice Roles, Functions and Concepts as a Reactive Institution All the nations of the world can use their legal mechanisms to arrest pirates and charge them in a court of law. Traditionally, each autonomous nation has the power to charge pirates with its laws. There is imbalance in this legal framework. This is because the pirates may be committing crime, but they are within their territory. Charging them becomes difficult. Traditional Criminal Justice Roles, Functions and Concepts as a Preventive Societal Institution Piracy Reporting Centre, which was formed by International Maritime Bureau, tracks pirate activities all over the globe. The UNCLOS clearly states that high seas piracy contravenes the law and that all countries have a right to arrest and take legal action against responsible for piracy on the high seas. The international law on buccaneering does not relate to incidents taking place within a coastal country`s adjacent waters. The result of this is that principally, it has been left to those nations that have been confronted with offshore pirate-related attacks and cases of sea theft in their territories to use their own legal systems to patrol and police their waters and eventually implement their criminal laws by prosecuting criminals. Because of that, a rather unbalanced legal system has come up which depends on the capability of and consistency in effecting these roles by directly affected countries. Trends Affecting Security and Loss Prevention The most manifest change in the past few years has been reallocation. Pirates change the...