Do We Need a New Convention on Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships?

Abstract

A new convention on piracy is not likely to resolve most of the problems and weaknesses that have been recognized in the course of the efforts to combat Somali piracy. It is also unlikely that coastal States would agree to a new convention on armed robbery against ships if the provisions of such a convention would infringe in any way on the sovereignty of coastal States in their territorial sea and archipelagic waters. One measure that should be taken is to encourage States to bring their national legislation on piracy into conformity with the Law of the sea (LOS) Convention piracy regime. The solution to safer seas does not lie in the adoption of a new convention on piracy and armed robbery against ships. It lies in making better use of the existing international conventions and the legal framework established in the LOS Convention. Keywords:Armed Robbery; coastal States; LOS Convention; Somali Piracy; territorial sea