Are Cruise Ship Pirate Attacks Common?Ĭontainer Cargo Ship (Photo: Avigator Thailand/ Shutterstock) Precisely speaking, when an attack is for religious or political gain, the term terrorism is widely used. Piracy takes place when the motive is strictly for financial gain pirates try to board ships with the intention of robbing them or holding the crew or passengers hostage for ransom. Waters become international past the 12th nautical mile of territorial jurisdiction, and the prescribed Maritime Safety Protection Area is lawfully patrolled by international anti-pirate taskforces.īut there's another distinction between piracy and terrorism. What's the difference between an act of terrorism and piracy? According to international law, it is a crime of piracy when an act is committed within international waters and, thereby, outside the territorial jurisdiction of any given nation. What Are Pirates, and How Do They Differ From Terrorists? Piracy warnings are also meted out in parts of the Red Sea and along both the eastern and northeastern coasts of Africa.īut it's important to know this: Cruise lines have prepared for many challenging scenarios, and ships are well-equipped to handle situations when pirates attack cruise ships. Other hot zones include Asia (particularly in the Strait of Malacca between Malaysia and Singapore), the Somali Coast and the Amazon River. Though the majority of concerns currently pertain to the Gulf of Aden, pirates can strike almost anywhere, at any time. It wasn't until the early 2000s that we were made aware of their efforts to attack cruise ships. And they strike often - far more often than most realize. Still, pirates today evoke the same fears as they did in ancient times. Whether or not the poor ever see a dime is unknown. Supposedly, these pirates seek to act as modern-day Robin Hoods, distributing wealth from the hands of the rich to those of the poor by capturing vessels and holding onboard personnel for ransom. Instead the role has been filled by angry young men carrying guns, rifles, grenades and missiles. Gone are the Blackbeards, Captain Kidds and other one-eyed, hook-handed robbers who plundered ships of yore. Never has there been a yawning void in pirate attacks on the seas, but pirate activity has slowed a bit in recent years.
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