Piracy, High Seas

Piracy is a global concern, particularly in the busy waterways around the Gulf of Aden near the Horn of Africa. Since 2003, pirate encounters have rapidly escalated and have been reported off the coasts of Bangladesh, Nigeria, Brazil, Peru, and Singapore, as well as other coasts around the world. In 2009, there were reports of attacks off the coast of Haiti and Columbia in which coastal tankers were hijacked. Even though piracy does not affect a large number of ships, the frequency of attacks has increased significantly. Piracy is a problem that benefits not only the criminal activities in the country where the pirates originate or work out of but other nations as well. Piracy promotes lawlessness and instability and supplies criminals as well as ...