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<blockquote data-quote="Azul" data-source="post: 2701591" data-attributes="member: 11779">Not only do they still exist but pirate attacks have been an increasing problem over the past several years.&nbsp; The main hotspots for pirate attacks are areas off the coast of very lawless and conflict-torn regions (i.e. no effective central governance to crack down on piratical acts + internal conflict fostering a need for money to buy arms).&nbsp; Obviously, there is a need for international shipping lanes (or some valuable shipping) to be relatively nearby too.&nbsp; The usual deal is for them to steal loose valuables, the safe and maybe take a hostage or two.&nbsp; Lately, a few have had the stones to hold entire cargo ships for ransom.The stardard tactic of modern pirates is to use a handful of small, fast boats and swarm a slow large boat, ideally boarding it by surprise.&nbsp; They are often unafraid to kill if it is easier or makes a point to others on board.&nbsp; These guys are not romantic &quot;yarr&quot; type pirates.&nbsp; They are violent paramilitary gangs with AKs and machetes.I believe that the waters near Somalia and Aceh (in Indonesia) are the worst right now but some other parts of Africa still have pirates.&nbsp;&nbsp; I remember something about a ship off a rogue area of Nigeria being taken not so long ago.&nbsp; These attacks turn up with alarming regularity on more internationally focused media such as the BBC.&nbsp; North American media usually ignore them.What is exceptional in the report you linked to is the fact that they attacked a luxury liner rather than their usual prey (cargo ships - they have small crews and lots of stuff).&nbsp; The Somalian pirates are getting more aggressive if they are willing to attack such heavily populated vessels.&nbsp; Still, if they succeeded, I imagine there would be an impressive haul as a result (not to mention lots of big ransoms).</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Azul, post: 2701591, member: 11779"] Not only do they still exist but pirate attacks have been an increasing problem over the past several years. The main hotspots for pirate attacks are areas off the coast of very lawless and conflict-torn regions (i.e. no effective central governance to crack down on piratical acts + internal conflict fostering a need for money to buy arms). Obviously, there is a need for international shipping lanes (or some valuable shipping) to be relatively nearby too. The usual deal is for them to steal loose valuables, the safe and maybe take a hostage or two. Lately, a few have had the stones to hold entire cargo ships for ransom. The stardard tactic of modern pirates is to use a handful of small, fast boats and swarm a slow large boat, ideally boarding it by surprise. They are often unafraid to kill if it is easier or makes a point to others on board. These guys are not romantic "yarr" type pirates. They are violent paramilitary gangs with AKs and machetes. I believe that the waters near Somalia and Aceh (in Indonesia) are the worst right now but some other parts of Africa still have pirates. I remember something about a ship off a rogue area of Nigeria being taken not so long ago. These attacks turn up with alarming regularity on more internationally focused media such as the BBC. North American media usually ignore them. What is exceptional in the report you linked to is the fact that they attacked a luxury liner rather than their usual prey (cargo ships - they have small crews and lots of stuff). The Somalian pirates are getting more aggressive if they are willing to attack such heavily populated vessels. Still, if they succeeded, I imagine there would be an impressive haul as a result (not to mention lots of big ransoms). [/QUOTE]

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