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Maritime Piracy

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Maritime piracy—the plundering, hijacking, or detention of a ship in international waters—has evolved over the centuries but remains a challenge to international law. RAND advises a range of stakeholders—governments, militaries, and corporations—on ways to prevent or mitigate piracy activities and improve international collaboration, response, and recovery.

Blog

Somali Piracy All About Economics

Oct 10, 2013

The average Somali lives on less than $2 a day. Even fishermen, who are comparatively well off by national standards, face difficulties making a living due to the chronic depletion of sea stocks from years of poaching and illegal dumping of toxic waste. Under such circumstances, the allure of piracy is clear.

Explore Maritime Piracy

Report

Report

A Preliminary Assessment of Indonesia's Maritime Security Threats and Capabilities

This study identifies the threats and priority areas for Indonesia in the maritime security domain as a first step in an overall assessment of capability requirements and gaps.

Apr 18, 2018
Q&A

Enhancing China's Status as a Great Power

China is investing heavily in its military modernization program as it aims to extend its power in the region as well as globally. How will China's growing ability to project power affect U.S. regional goals?

Aug 1, 2017
Report

Report

Against the rising tide: an overview of the growing criminalization of the Mediterranean basin

This publication is part of a series of four RAND Perspectives (PE) each focusing on different challenges in the Mediterranean region. The focus of this PE is on defence and security issues and their implications for regional stability.

Jan 26, 2017
Report

Report

Cross-Cutting Challenges and their Implications for the Mediterranean region

This publication is part of a series of four RAND Perspectives (PE) each focusing on different challenges in the Mediterranean region. The focus of this PE is on cross-cutting challenges and their implications for regional stability and security.

Jan 26, 2017
Commentary

South Korea Cracks Down on Illegal Chinese Fishing, with Violent Results

In the Yellow Sea and elsewhere, Chinese fishermen have shown an increasing willingness to challenge attempts by coast guards to enforce fishing laws. Earlier this week, after repeated warnings, the Korea Coast Guard opened fire on a Chinese vessel fishing illegally in Korean waters.

Nov 4, 2016
Commentary

Indonesia-China Tensions in the Natuna Sea: Evidence of Naval Efficacy Over Coast Guards?

The notion that Southeast Asian countries should employ coast guards instead of navies to enforce maritime laws had been gaining currency. But many of the coast guard fleets lack sufficient capacity to deal with the threats along their coast and in disputed waters in the South China Sea.

Jul 5, 2016
Commentary

Ten Years After the Safe Port Act, Are America's Ports Secure?

The economic importance and visibility of America's ports make them attractive terrorism targets. Port security has improved, but many of the threats that motivated the Safe Ports Act in 2006 remain, and new dangers have emerged, including cyber threats.

Apr 6, 2016
Commentary

Why the Dangerous New Turn for Piracy Matters

Off the western coast of Africa, just north of the equator, the Gulf of Guinea has endured piracy for decades. But recent spikes in new, more dangerous forms of piracy imply a troubling sense of invincibility in the minds of the perpetrators.

Apr 29, 2014
Blog

Using Air Power Against Pirates Off West Africa

A U.S. Official has confirmed that two mariners thought to be U.S. Citizens were kidnapped from an American ship in a pirate attack off of the West African coast — the 40th such attack reported in the Gulf of Guinea in 2013. The current security situation in the Gulf has affected petroleum and natural gas production.

Oct 25, 2013
Research Brief

Research Brief

The Future of Sea Power in the Western Pacific

Explores the future relationship between U.S. and Chinese sea power in the context of historical sea-power rivalries and recent technological developments, and discusses the potential of pursuing maritime security cooperation in the Western Pacific.

Apr 26, 2013
Report

China's Growing Sea Power Can Be Countered by Technology, Maritime Cooperation

The United States should respond to China's increasing sea power in the Western Pacific region by exploiting technology to make its naval forces less vulnerable, while also pursuing regional maritime security cooperation that includes China.

Apr 26, 2013
News Release

News Release

U.S. Military's Role with Petroleum Is to Assure Security

Energy purchases made by the U.S. Department of Defense do not influence world oil prices, making cutting fuel use the only effective choice to reduce what the Pentagon spends on petroleum fuels.

Jun 19, 2012
Report

Report

What Can Be Done to Increase Asia's Sea-Lane Security?

The sea lanes that supply Asia's energy needs are already vulnerable to geopolitical concerns and the threat of piracy. One approach to protecting them would be employ multiple U.S. military and government elements; a second would be to promote the capabilities of and cooperation among nations in the region.

Jun 19, 2012
Report

Report

Security Issues Facing the Tri-Border Area Between the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia

The area between the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia is a key hub of terrorist and related criminal activity in Southeast Asia. The Coast Watch System was designed to improve maritime domain awareness in the region but has some issues to overcome.

May 17, 2012
Report

Report

Characterizing and Exploring the Implications of Maritime Irregular Warfare

Although irregular warfare includes a range of activities in which naval forces have played an integral role, there has been little examination of the characteristics or potential of such operations in maritime environments. Current notions of irregular warfare would benefit from increased recognition of potential maritime contributions.

Feb 20, 2012
Commentary

Commentary

Industry Insights: What's So Hard About Stopping Piracy?

Containing persistent maritime disorder might be more fruitful and could lay the foundations for a successful transition to better use of the sea once the societal factors—an even longer term problem—have been resolved, writes Laurence Smallman.

Apr 11, 2011
Commentary

Commentary

Kowtowing to Pirates' Ransoms Fuels Maritime Piracy

Instead of fanning piracy, international businesses need to heed policy. Ransoms in the short term can only lead to more problems in the long term, writes Laurence Smallman.

Apr 11, 2011
Commentary

Commentary

Stormy Seas off Somalia: Pirate Activity Will Increase in 2011

Only by addressing the poverty and lack of central authority in Somalia can the international community lower maritime crime and violence off the Horn of Africa, writes Peter Chalk.

Feb 28, 2011
Commentary

Commentary

An Old Scourge Needs a Modern Solution

Piracy is a crime at sea, but it starts on land. To thwart the Somali piracy career path, the world community should put funds toward protecting local fishing grounds and building a national coast guard capability in Somalia, writes Peter Chalk.

Sep 3, 2010

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RAND Topic:
Maritime Piracy

Topic Synonyms:
Pirating

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