Maritime piracy poses a
Maritime piracy poses a threat to global shipping as pirates target commercial vessels for ransom, stealing cargo and kidnapping crew members to fulfil other motives, mainly political. Despite international efforts to deal with maritime piracy, it still persists in many hotspots driven by socio-economic and political factors. This article outlines the highest ransoms ever paid to pirates.
Maritime piracy has been in the world for more than 3000 years, with its earliest documented incidents in the 14th century BC, when the Sea Peoples raided ships in the Aegean and Mediterranean regions.
Piracy surged in several parts of the world during the Golden Age of Piracy, which spanned from the 1650s to 1730s, in which it flourished in the Indian Ocean, North Atlantic and the Caribbean, with the rise of many famous pirates, eyeing colonial trade routes and the valuable cargoes ships carried.
Modern-day piracy persists due to a lack of economic opportunities, corruption, poverty and other factors.
Irene SL Hijacking, 2011
The Irene SL hijacking is one of the most prominent maritime piracy incidents due to the record-breaking ransom paid for its release.
Content Original Link:
" target="_blank">
