Title: Maritime piracy: an analysis of attacks and violence

Authors: Mei Chi Wong; Tsz Leung Yip

Addresses: Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Faculty of Business, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. ' Department of Logistics and Maritime Studies, Faculty of Business, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong

Abstract: Maritime piracy has become a core subject in maritime security and safety. Using ICC International Maritime Bureau data from 2002 to 2009, we use binary choice models to estimate the success/failure of pirate attacks as a function of vessel type, flag, vessel operation, number of pirates, boarding methods, and arms type. Rather than forecasting the piracy incidents, the binary models are used to quantify how pirate characteristics and behaviour determine the rate of success and degree of violence of piracy attacks. The results identify three major approaches for pirate attacks, with the different approaches being associated with different levels of violence and arms used and different targets. The study proposes managerial implications for maritime security.

Keywords: maritime security; maritime piracy; pirate violence; binary choice models; ISPS Code; International Ship and Port Facility Security Code; pirate attacks; success rates; degree of violence; violence levels; arms used; targets.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTL.2012.049315

International Journal of Shipping and Transport Logistics, 2012 Vol.4 No.4, pp.306 - 322

Received: 03 Nov 2011
Accepted: 14 Dec 2011
Published online: 14 Aug 2014 *

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