Pirates Still Prowl the Seas

Old-fashioned piracy is still a major threat to ocean cargo vessel operators in many parts of the world, trade analysts tell us, but it does not represent the extension of politically-driven terrorism. According to the Rand Corporation, the objectives of the two crimes are quite different, and merit distinct responses. Indeed, the study’s findings suggest U.S. policy makers pay  too much attention to "worse-case terrorist scenarios"  rather than focusing on pirate attacks against commercial fleets. Meanwhile, Rand is advising carriers to make greater use of enabling communication and defensive technologies, while accepting more transparency in their corporate structures.