Tweet Facebook Mail The word "pirate" still evokes images of swashbuckling rogues brandishing swords, but modern-day pirates are a far cry from Captain Jack Sparrow. Gone are the corsairs, buccaneers and privateers that date back to the 14th century; today, pirates armed with assault rifles attack cargo ships, take hostages, and threaten maritime imports around the world. In the first half of 2024 alone, the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy (IMB) Reporting Centre received 60 reports of piracy and armed robbery, and 85 crew members were kidnapped.
READ MORE: PM splashes $4.3m on stunning waterfront property Pirates head for shore while under observation by a US Navy ship off the Somali coast. (Getty) What are pirates of today? The IMB defines piracy today as "an act of boarding a ship to commit theft or any other crime, with the intent or ability to use force to facilitate that act".
The International Maritime Organisation (IMO), on the other hand, defines it as an attack that occurs on the high seas or in areas outside the jurisdiction of any country's laws. Unlike the IMB, the IMO specifies where the attack must take place for it to be an act of piracy. What do real-life, modern-day pirates do? Pirates in the 21st century, or modern pirates, typically attack cargo ships from speed boats, usually operating off captured fishing or merchant vessels.
Modern pirates usually steal merchandise being transported on cargo ships, or attempt to take over the ship and charge a .