Posted: August 14th, 2022

Maritime Security and Piracy

Maritime Security and Piracy – Examines contemporary issues like piracy, terrorism, smuggling and maritime domain awareness.
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Maritime security is a crucial aspect of global trade and transportation, ensuring the safety of ships and seafarers as they navigate the open seas. One of the key factors influencing maritime security is piracy jurisdiction, which plays a vital role in protecting vessels and the lives of those on board.

Piracy is a crime that occurs in waters beyond the territorial sea of any state, while armed robbery at sea takes place within a state’s territorial sea. Both crimes pose serious threats to the safety and security of maritime commerce, as well as to the human rights and welfare of seafarers. Piracy and armed robbery at sea can also have negative impacts on regional stability, economic development, environmental protection and international relations.

According to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), piracy and armed robbery against ships rose by nearly 20 per cent during the first half of 2020, despite an overall decrease in maritime traffic due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The most affected areas were West Africa, the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, and the South China Sea. The Gulf of Guinea, in particular, witnessed unprecedented levels of insecurity, accounting for more than 90 per cent of global kidnappings at sea.

The IMO has developed and adopted a number of measures to enhance maritime security and combat piracy and armed robbery at sea, such as the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code, which sets out minimum security standards for ships and port facilities. The IMO also provides technical assistance and capacity building to member states, especially in developing regions, to help them implement effective legal frameworks and operational responses to maritime security challenges.

However, maritime security requires a truly global and integrated response that addresses not only the direct threats but also their root causes, such as poverty, lack of alternative livelihoods, insecurity and weak governance structures. Therefore, cooperation and coordination among states, regional organizations, international agencies, industry stakeholders and civil society is essential to ensure a safe and secure maritime domain for all.

Bibliography
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: Maritime Security and Piracy [Internet]. London: International Maritime Organization; [cited 2023 Nov 16]. Available from: https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Security/Pages/MaritimeSecurity.aspx

: Global response needed to counter rising security threats at sea [Internet]. New York: UN News; 2021 Aug 9 [cited 2023 Nov 16]. Available from: https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/08/1097432

: Protecting Ships and Seafarers: How Piracy Jurisdiction Impacts Maritime Security [Internet]. Sea Law Central; [cited 2023 Nov 16]. Available from: https://sealawcentral.com/maritime-piracy-law/protecting-ships-seafarers-piracy-jurisdiction-maritime-security/

: International Maritime Piracy and Armed Robbery at Sea [Internet]. Washington DC: U.S. Department of State; [cited 2023 Nov 16]. Available from: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/emergencies/internl-maritime-piracy-robbery.html

: Chalk P. The Maritime Dimension of International Security: Terrorism, Piracy, and Challenges for the United States. Santa Monica: RAND Corporation; 2008.

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