| Summary/Abstract |
While many people regard piracy as something daring and magical, as depicted in Hollywood movies, the reality is that piracy is a real and evergrowing threat to seafarers in many maritime arenas. One of the most important but least understood impacts of piracy is its financial cost and it is a critical maritime security threat in the world. While in ancient times, the main drivers of piracy were raiding for plunder and capture of slaves, in the modern era, economic, military, political and even technological developments have drastically altered its character. There are diverse motives behind modern day piracy ranging from economic gains through ransoms to political advantages and even terrorism. States have taken steps at the international as well as regional level to combat piracy including through legal frameworks. This paper examines the adequacy of the measures and discusses the current challenges to the implementation of anti-piracy norms.
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