The International Cooperation In The Struglle Against The Maritime Piracy

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.