Deter Mercenary Piracy to Avoid Terrorist Piracy

The highest priority in the latest piracy news cycle is to prevent piracy as a terrorist platform. Mercenary piracy isn't the worst piracy danger to crews, nations and companies.

Sufficiently armed, mercenary pirates know they have the advantage in seizing civilian vessels because the ocean is so vast. However, keeping them or extracting gain from them is not so easy. Communications, GPS tracking and satellite technology mean pirates will have a tougher time getting away with what they seize. Terrorist piracy, however, puts a premium on seizure.

For a world view on piracy incidents in 2009, go to the International Chamber of Commerce's Live Piracy Map. There are maps going back to 2005. For more detail on each attack, go to Live Piracy Report. One of the deadliest years for international piracy was 2004, with 30 crew members murdered or killed.

Terrorist pirates' minimum objective may be met by seizure and destruction. Further objectives would be to 'improve' on destructive impact, knowing that a publicized terror success doubles as a terror recruiting ad. That is why deterrence and prevention is so important.

Terrorist use of a vessel could include high explosive or WMD deployment with the vessel as a mobile bomb device. Such a sinister vessel could cause steep human and infrastructural costs.

A sea marshal concept may work to deter piracy of ocean craft. A sea marshal plan in which marshals could deputize and arm crew members would harden targets and better deter piracy than a finger wagging secretary of state and an army of prosecutors jumping up and down on a distant coast.