Pirate Attack Map for 2007

[guns68]

Originally Posted by stuartcnz

So just how often do ships officers dock their own ship?
Stuart.

Every time. The pilot does not have physical control of the ship. The captain of the ship is still in command, although there can be severe penalties if he/she does not have a very good reason for not listening to the pilot. Besides it's tough to give course corrections if your bound and gagged or with a bullet in the back of your head.
The port authorities will have something to say about the matter, IF they know far enough in advance AND they are able to deploy forces that can take down the vessel, but honestly they will probably find out about the terrorist right after the ship slams into the port facilities.

[sneuman]

Originally Posted by Southern Star

Piracy traditionally denotes the attack/boarding of a vessel while it is underway. Technically, when it is at dock or under anchor it is a burglary (or robbery if force is used on the occupants). The virtual lack of the same on yachts in the Caribbean should be comforting - particularly if you believe that good alarms/passive defence systems can deal with most in-harbour intrusions.

Brad

But, in fact, the IMO conflates the two, so a boarding and robbery on the hook or in port is considered an act of piracy.

[Chiroeurope]

The IMB draws very defined lines between Piracy and other forms of crime on the seas. Piracy is by the legal definition an act that happens on the high seas (outside national waters). Highjacking, robbery, kidnapping of persons; this all can happen with piracy but can also happen seperately. The IMB has shown very little interest in pleasure craft as they see all yacht owners.

Also many countries will under/ not report a criminal act against a private vessel in order to keep the bad press down. I know of one case where the private vessel owners where accused of a crime even though they where the ones wrong in an attempt to get them to leave and stop making a public scene.

This is why I am asking anyone who has firsthand information, please contact me as I'm trying to put a real measure of what the problem is so that it can be dealt with both within the Sailing community and presented to the needed bodies political. Though some countries do seem to be taking it a bit more seriously than others and see the income from the increasing body of Yacht owners and live aboard families to be something they want to retain.