THE INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN THE STRUGLLE AGAINST THE MARITIME PIRACY
Autor (i): George Dorel Popa
JEL: K, N, Z.
Cuvinte cheie: International cooperation, Vessels, Piracy, Maritime safety, Maritime law
Abstract:
Pirates are sea robbers who attacked other ships and rob their goods and sometimes capture the attacked
ship or the crew and passengers for their own purposes. Piracy as illegal activity is attested over 2000 years ago
in ancient Greece; pirates threatened the trading routes of Greece. Later, Roman ships were attacked by pirates
who stole their cargoes of wine, grain, clothing and olive oil. Piracy has the highest point between XVII-XVIII
centuries being the “golden age of pirates”. Unfortunately, even today the pirates still exist and create huge
problems in certain area of the world. Any act of piracy is a direct threat for maritime security by endangering,
the welfare of seafarers and the security of commerce, tourism and navigation. The piracy could lead at the loss
of lives and injured persons or hostage-taking situations. The results of the piracy are affecting directly the
commerce and navigation causing serious financial losses for ship-owners. Another side effect of the piracy is
the spectacular increasing of the vessels insurance and increasing of the security expenditures and humanitarian
assistance. At the end the cost of the sea transport will dramatically increase and the producers and consumers
will suffer financial and economic losses.