The Pros And Cons Of Pirate Attacks

Therefore that being discussed it can be concluded that, a reduction in the number of pirate attacks helps all states, but the states that choose to fight piracy bear high costs for doing so. That is to say, an ocean free of pirates is a common good that benefits all states, but obtaining that common good is an expensive process for those states which choose to guarantee it. Under international law, states are free to act as they feel best with regards to piracy. UNCLOS does not contain a provision on capturing and punishing pirates. It gives states permission to do so under universal jurisdiction, but it does not provide guidelines for these states nor even a mandate that they must take action (Azubuike 2009). It does call for states to cooperate, but does not set down enforcement mechanisms (Dutton 2010). Nor does it authorize an international court to hear piracy cases (Noyes 1990–1991). Instead, states have to …show more content…
When trying a foreign pirate domestically, states must pay all the costs of trial: transporting evidence and witnesses, providing translation and legal services for the pirates, and housing the pirate in a domestic prison. States also fear that pirates, upon reaching their soil, will petition for asylum. Because of this, it is not uncommon for states to simply release pirates, rather than face the costs and complications of transporting them for trial.

Hence it can be concluded that, in recent years piracy, has turned out to be a vital problem for global shipping and maritime safety. Piracy is an international problem, as it takes place outside state jurisdiction and affects the nationals of many states. Yet international law has proven unable to provide a framework for an effective solution to this problem. This is due in part to two main flaws in the treatment of piracy under the major document in international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the