Are There Modern Day Pirates? 

Despite what the movies and books portray, piracy is not fiction and it is most certainly not a thing of the past. There are, indeed, modern-day pirates active around the globe. 

They may no longer don the traditional attire that many of us associate with pirates such as boots, trousers, waistcoats and tricorn hats, but they are still ferocious and causing chaos on the waters in several areas of the world. 

Let’s look a little deeper into modern-day piracy, what it looks like, how it is counteracted and what continues to motivate these pirates to continue to live a life of crime. 

Where Can Pirate Activity Mostly Be Found Today? 

If you are heading out on a beach vacation, have no fear about the swashbuckling ways of the pirates. Your vacation destination is most likely safe from being pillaged or looted by modern-day pirates. 

Three areas of the globe do, however, have regular incidences of piracy that should be noted. The areas with the highest incidences of pirate attacks on other ships include the Singapore Straits with 35 attacks since 2021 according to Statistica. Additionally, Peruvian waters have experienced 18 attacks and 38 incidents along the coast of West Africa. 

Other areas where piracy has taken place include the Gulf of Guinea, Strait of Malacca, Sulu and Celebes Seas, the Indian Ocean, and Falcon Lake. 

These modern pirates target the largest trade routes in these areas in hopes of amassing materials, money and valuable cargo to fund their lifestyles. In some cases, the bounty is used to fund crime groups, wars and local governments. If cargo is unavailable or deemed not valuable, the pirates may take the crew of the opposing vessel hostage and demand a ransom to earn their booty. 

What Motivates Modern-Day Pirates? 

Motivations behind why an individual would join the ranks of modern-day pirates vary depending on the area, culture and societal situations. For instance, some of the factors include securing livelihood in poverty-stricken areas of the globe. Also included as a motivating factor is the existence of criminal gangs or militant groups in an area such as off the coast of Somalia or in the South China Sea. 

To combat these crimes on the sea, collaboration between neighboring countries, industries such as fishing vessels, and international groups such as the United Nations is critical. According to Sinay, a maritime data solution company, “governments and shipping companies are forced to adopt a layered defense strategy. The tactics deployed aim to deter, detect, and delay pirate attacks.” 

To learn more about the history of piracy and how it has evolved into modern-day piracy, visit Real Pirates Salem for a tour.