Legal Definitions - Piracy (Maritime)

Piracy (Maritime) refers to acts of robbery, violence, or illegal detention committed on the high seas or in international waters by individuals or groups who are not authorized by any government. These acts are typically carried out against another vessel, its crew, or its cargo, usually for private gain or other personal motives. It is a serious crime under both international law and the laws of many nations.

Here are some examples illustrating maritime piracy:

• Example 1: Attack on a Commercial Tanker

  A group of armed individuals in several small, fast boats approaches a large oil tanker navigating through a busy shipping lane in the Gulf of Aden. They use grappling hooks to board the vessel, overpower the crew, and attempt to steal a portion of the valuable crude oil cargo before being intercepted by a naval patrol.

  This scenario illustrates piracy because a non-state group (the armed individuals) committed acts of violence and theft (boarding, overpowering crew, attempting to steal cargo) against a ship (the oil tanker) in international waters, for private gain.

• Example 2: Ransom of a Research Vessel

  Off the coast of Somalia, a scientific research vessel conducting oceanographic studies is intercepted by a well-organized criminal gang. The gang takes the entire crew hostage and demands a multi-million dollar ransom from the vessel's operating company for their safe release and the return of the ship.

  This is a clear case of piracy because a non-state actor (the criminal gang) committed an act of illegal detention and violence (taking hostages) against a vessel and its crew, for private financial gain (ransom), in an area beyond national jurisdiction.

• Example 3: Robbery of a Pleasure Yacht

  While sailing in the remote waters of the South Pacific, far from any national coastline, a private yacht is boarded by armed individuals from a smaller, unmarked boat. The attackers threaten the passengers, steal their personal valuables, and damage the yacht's communication equipment before fleeing.

  This situation also constitutes piracy. The armed individuals are non-state actors who committed acts of violence and theft against a vessel (the yacht) and its occupants, and the incident occurred in international waters, fitting the definition of maritime piracy.