As stated by Burnett, “Blackbeard is long gone, but a new and violent breed of pirate is taking his place, plundering ships in most oceans of the world” (9). The global phenomenon of contemporary piracy exemplifies modern trends which contribute to its reawakening. In modern day piracy, pirates are criminals who are driven by economic necessity. According to Martin Murphy, piracy can be referred to as a gang crime because the act of piracy occurs in small groups rather than individually (23). With more organized pirates, it is possible to make off with larger ransoms. For example, it is possible to take control of a large vessel and ransack it for all of its valuable cargo and money. Although money seems to be the underlying motivation for
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AK-47 assault rifles are popular weapon choices for modern pirates for three reasons: they have a straightforward design with only sixteen moving parts, they are inexpensive to manufacture, and they are easy to operate and maintain (Marley 32). The proliferation of small arms have given pirates a more violent, destructive, and sophisticated level of operation (Chalk 3). Another significant weapon used by pirates is the Rocket-Propelled Grenade launcher. With this weapon, it is possible for pirates to threaten the captains of large merchant fleets. These fleets typically carry cargo which is easily combustible, so this would pose a huge concern for such merchant men. With an increase in weapons, pirates are now able to capture large vessels effectively and achieve their desired payout from the shipowners. Due to the increase of pirate attacks and small defenses available on ships, shipowners are more willing to offer large sums of money for the return of their cargo and vessels, as well as to protect their own lives (Chalk 3). This alone is a motivation for piracy, because the idea of making off with such large profits far outweighs the risk of being caught for these …show more content…
Approximately ninety five percent of global trade is transported by ships and vessels (Burnett 11). However, for ships to carry their desired commerce from one destination to another, there are only a few number of ways to do so. For example, as stated by John S. Burnett, “Most of these routes pass through congested shipping lanes, narrow channels and straits, busy international canals, winding rivers, and heavily trafficked harbors” (11). This makes these areas prime targets for pirate activity. Before Somalia became a popular area for pirate attacks, the Malacca Strait proved to be a common location for piracy from the mid-1980s until the late 1990s. This narrow channel of water between Sumatra and Malaysia creates the link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, making the Malacca Strait one of the most frequently traversed passages taken by commercial vessels and tankers (Burgess 160). As of 1998, four of the world’s five busiest seaports, which include Rotterdam, Singapore, Shanghai, Nagoya, and Hong Kong, exist in Asia (Marley 26). As Chalk states, piracy is driven by the large amount of trade moving through the sea on vessels and tankers, as well as the need for these ships to pass through dangerous waters which are not secured and are filled with lurking pirates (2). With the few numbers of bodies of water that commercial ships can travel through to arrive at their intended destination,
AK-47 assault rifles are popular weapon choices for modern pirates for three reasons: they have a straightforward design with only sixteen moving parts, they are inexpensive to manufacture, and they are easy to operate and maintain (Marley 32). The proliferation of small arms have given pirates a more violent, destructive, and sophisticated level of operation (Chalk 3). Another significant weapon used by pirates is the Rocket-Propelled Grenade launcher. With this weapon, it is possible for pirates to threaten the captains of large merchant fleets. These fleets typically carry cargo which is easily combustible, so this would pose a huge concern for such merchant men. With an increase in weapons, pirates are now able to capture large vessels effectively and achieve their desired payout from the shipowners. Due to the increase of pirate attacks and small defenses available on ships, shipowners are more willing to offer large sums of money for the return of their cargo and vessels, as well as to protect their own lives (Chalk 3). This alone is a motivation for piracy, because the idea of making off with such large profits far outweighs the risk of being caught for these …show more content…
Approximately ninety five percent of global trade is transported by ships and vessels (Burnett 11). However, for ships to carry their desired commerce from one destination to another, there are only a few number of ways to do so. For example, as stated by John S. Burnett, “Most of these routes pass through congested shipping lanes, narrow channels and straits, busy international canals, winding rivers, and heavily trafficked harbors” (11). This makes these areas prime targets for pirate activity. Before Somalia became a popular area for pirate attacks, the Malacca Strait proved to be a common location for piracy from the mid-1980s until the late 1990s. This narrow channel of water between Sumatra and Malaysia creates the link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, making the Malacca Strait one of the most frequently traversed passages taken by commercial vessels and tankers (Burgess 160). As of 1998, four of the world’s five busiest seaports, which include Rotterdam, Singapore, Shanghai, Nagoya, and Hong Kong, exist in Asia (Marley 26). As Chalk states, piracy is driven by the large amount of trade moving through the sea on vessels and tankers, as well as the need for these ships to pass through dangerous waters which are not secured and are filled with lurking pirates (2). With the few numbers of bodies of water that commercial ships can travel through to arrive at their intended destination,