Maritime piracy as an international crime and ways to combat it

Abstract

Maritime piracy is considered an international crime prohibited by international law and international conventions. The spread of maritime piracy, especially off the coast of Somalia and the Red Sea, has led major nations to seriously consider the crime and view it as an act that warrants military intervention. This has been evident in the resolutions issued by the United Nations Security Council, such as Resolution 1816, Resolution 1838, and Resolution 1846, which allowed states and regional organizations to take necessary measures to suppress maritime piracy and enter the territorial waters of states where piracy is active. To understand the nature of maritime piracy, it is essential to examine the attempts made by scholars to define, identify, and distinguish it from other types of international crimes, which may sometimes be confused with it, such as aircraft hijacking. International law grants every state the right to combat maritime piracy, not only by deploying ships in high seas or off the coasts to secure international navigation routes but also by entering into regional treaties with coastal and non-coastal states to address this issue. For example, the states around the Red Sea. This crime is not only a concern for coastal states but also for all nations, as its effects can extend to non-coastal states. As piracy continues to spread, there is an increasing reliance on distant maritime routes, leading to higher costs for maritime travel.