International shipping and maritime travel rely on the safety of the high seas and a network of ports and terminals. However, maritime crime has become a major concern, threatening the safety of ships and seafarers, and even the economy of the entire maritime transport industry.
Although maritime crime is as old as the industry itself, its consequences are the same: loss of life and property. Since the high seas are not under the jurisdiction of any particular country, global cooperation is essential to combat maritime crimes such as piracy to protect ships from being targeted by transnational organized criminal groups that take crews hostage and demand huge ransoms to free the ships.
Piracy is just one type of maritime crime; this article will discuss many others. But before categorizing the different types of maritime crime, let’s first define maritime crime.
What is Maritime Crime?
Maritime crime refers to a variety of criminal acts committed at sea or in maritime areas such as international waters, territorial waters, archipelagic waters, and national exclusive economic zones.
These maritime crimes are of different natures, such as piracy, armed robbery at sea, illegal and unreported fishing, ocean dumping, illegal trafficking, smuggling, maritime terrorism, and many more.
It is important to remember that there is no boundary between what happens at sea and on land, as maritime crime can start at sea and then continue on land. For example, illegally caught fish are sold in wild markets, or people trafficked overseas are sold as forced labor in some places, although this is a serious crime.
Consequences of maritime crime
The consequences of maritime crime are very serious and can be even more serious due to the lack of a unified judiciary and the complex legal procedures that must be followed. It can take days or even months to rescue a ship or seafarer.
Maritime crime threatens the security of countries that rely on marine resources for their livelihoods. However, maritime crime has wide-ranging global implications, such as drug smuggling and human trafficking.
Maritime crime has a significant impact on developing countries and can undermine the stability of their economies and governments. Analyzing and studying the world’s maritime crime hotspots, such as piracy in Somalia, is essential to developing practical strategies to eliminate this crime at its root.
List of Different Types of Maritime Crime
1. Piracy, Hijacking, Kidnapping, and Armed Robbery
Piracy is an attack on a ship for robbery or hijacking, often in international waters, when the ship is usually at anchor, transiting narrow waterways, or traveling at low speed.
Piracy and armed robbery can lead to violence and cruelty against seafarers, and in some cases, even loss of life. Crew members held hostage by pirates suffer not only physical pain but also psychological trauma.
Pirates commit armed robbery by forcibly boarding ships or stealing ships and holding cargo and crew for ransom. Although piracy appeared to be declining, it has resurfaced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Piracy incidents have been increasing since Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea caused ships to change their routes and choose longer routes around Africa.
Piracy is active in Southeast Asia, the Horn of Africa, the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Guinea, and especially in the Straits of Malacca, Somalia, the Sulu Sea, the Celebes Sea, and the Singapore Strait.
Between January and September 2024, the International Maritime Bureau Piracy Centre received reports of approximately 79 incidents of piracy and armed robbery, including two ships boarded, nine attempted attacks, six hijackings, and two ships shot at. One hundred eleven crew members were taken hostage, 11 were kidnapped, and three were threatened.
Poverty is the root cause of piracy, especially in Africa, and it must be addressed if it is to be addressed globally.
2. Drug Trafficking
Among maritime crimes, drug trafficking is one of the most prevalent criminal activities. Criminal gangs and other organizations operate on the high seas, using ships to transport illegal drugs to countries around the world through waterways. This is a huge industry controlled by the mafia, estimated to be worth up to $400 billion a year.
Cocaine, marijuana, and opium are the most commonly used drugs. Drug trafficking hotspots where fishing vessels are known to be involved in the illegal trade include the Caribbean, the North Atlantic, and Southeast Asia. Drugs smuggled at sea often end up in countries such as the Maldives, Sri Lanka, China, Europe, and the Americas.
3. Human trafficking
This trafficking involves the exploitation of men, women, and even children for various purposes, the most important of which are forced labor and sexual exploitation. People living in poverty and those from countries experiencing civil war or political unrest may be targeted by human trafficking gangs.
The IOM Human Trafficking Dataset is the only organization that publishes data on human trafficking, and its data is sourced from anti-trafficking organizations around the world.
The report shows that the number of victims of human trafficking fell globally for the first time in two decades in 2020 due to restrictions on the movement of people caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the number of victims of sexual exploitation fell by 24% during the COVID-19 pandemic, as public places where such activities are usually carried out were closed. These activities may also move to hidden places, making them difficult to detect and record.
4. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing refers to fishing activities carried out by vessels without proper licenses and in violation of national and international fishing regulations. This phenomenon occurs in marine areas, both in international waters and under national jurisdiction, causing overfishing, depleting marine ecosystems, and threatening food security.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), about 26 million tons of fish are caught illegally worldwide, accounting for more than 15% of the world’s total catch. About 30% of illegal fishing is caused by overfishing, which threatens fish stocks and the livelihoods of traditional coastal communities.
5. Unauthorized access
If a ship needs to enter another country’s maritime border, it must obtain permission from that country’s government. Sailing in national waters without permission is a crime and is punishable in all countries. Criminal groups can take advantage of this situation and attack vulnerable ships while they are en route to their destination or at sea.
6. Marine pollution
Marine pollution involves ships dumping pollutants, waste, and oil into the sea. It is a serious maritime crime that causes environmental damage, economic losses, and adverse effects on human health.
Marine pollution comes in many forms, including hydrocarbon pollution, plastic and solid waste pollution, toxic waste pollution, ballast water pollution, the introduction of invasive species into new environments, and sewage and nutrient pollution.
Some of the international conventions and regulations that address marine pollution include the MARPOL, the London Convention, the Basel Convention, and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
7. Arms smuggling
Arms smuggling by ship is a serious crime that involves the illegal transportation of firearms, explosives, and ammunition via commercial and private vessels. It threatens international peace and security and poses risks to safety and governance, especially in regions experiencing civil war, terrorism, or political unrest.
Some of the smuggling hotspots include the Horn of Africa, South and Southeast Asia, the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, the Caribbean, and Central America.
Some international agreements that aim to combat smuggling include the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty and United Nations Security Council resolutions.
8. Illegal salvage operations
Illegal salvage operations involve recovering sunken vessels or valuable materials from the sea without proper legal rights or coordination with authorities. These actions violate environmental protection laws, maritime safety laws, and property laws.
Salvage laws require salvagers to obtain permission from the flag state of the sunken vessel and affected parties such as insurance companies, ship owners, or authorities. However, in illegal operations, individuals or criminal groups use unauthorized shipwrecks, unlicensed vessels and equipment, and dangerous methods.
9. Tax evasion
The number of cases where shipowners evade taxes by submitting forged documents or providing false cargo information has increased rapidly, posing a threat to maritime security.
10. Stowaways/Hackers
A stowaway is a person who boards a ship without the consent or knowledge of the captain or crew, i.e., illegally. They often hide on board to avoid detection, thus being able to travel illegally to another country. Although they violate immigration laws, they are not exploited like human trafficking.
However, they also pose a security risk because they often hide in dangerous places such as cargo holds, on top of containers, or in secluded locations. They often make these arduous journeys to escape the harsh environment of their home countries, which may be experiencing war, conflict, or political unrest. Therefore, they try to seek better life opportunities in another country.
Ways to improve maritime security
The crimes mentioned above pose a threat to maritime security. Despite all efforts, maritime security is still at risk when criminal activities become dangerous. The lack of a cohesive system and cooperation between countries is one of the reasons why these crimes still severely affect the shipping industry. Some ways to combat maritime crimes include:
- Strengthening monitoring and international cooperation
- Using satellite tracking
- Tighter regulations
- More efficient monitoring of ships and ports
- Optimal quarantine services
- Countries must recognize the shortcomings of their security systems and find solutions.
