Maritime Piracy as an International Crime and Ways to Combat It

Abstract

International law scholars consider piracy to be an internationally prohibited act, granting any country the right to combat it, punish its perpetrators, and impose penalties. Piracy is as old as maritime navigation, and this crime resurfaces from time to time, with its perpetrators growing in strength and influence. The collapse of governments in some African countries, such as Somalia, and their inability to control lawbreakers has raised questions about the reasons for the spread of piracy in the Red Sea and off the coast of Somalia. Some researchers believe that the poverty experienced by the people in these areas, along with the lack of security, are among the reasons for the emergence of piracy there. The danger of piracy lies in its potential to threaten international maritime navigation routes, such as the Gulf of Aden, which controls the southern entrance to the Red Sea and serves as a major commercial route between Europe, Asia, and Africa. As the threat of piracy to commercial ships increases, people consider taking alternative, longer maritime routes through Europe, North America, and the Cape of Good Hope, all of which lead to higher shipping and operating costs. Piracy can also affect the delivery of humanitarian aid provided by the United Nations World Food Program to areas in need, such as Somalia. The concept of piracy may be confused with other crimes involving violence and armed robbery, such as hijacking airplanes. Some scholars have considered airplane hijacking to be an act of piracy, calling it "air piracy." However, airplane hijacking differs from maritime piracy, as maritime piracy is a crime committed on the high seas.