Quantitative analysis of maritime piracy at global and regional scales to improve maritime security

Abstract

The shipping industry has long been hindered by piracy, which threatens the lives of the crews of ships as well as maritime security. Understanding the characteristics of maritime piracy across different scales can help optimize global routes to reduce shipping risks and improve maritime security. In this study, we propose a framework for exploring and comparing the characteristics of maritime piracy at global and regional scales. Data on piracy incidents were collected from Global Integrated Shipping Information System, developed by the International Maritime Organization, and were reconstructed by using text mining and geospatial techniques. The distribution of the key variables and the spatiotemporal distribution of incidents of maritime piracy were investigated, and records of these incidents were divided into six categories. The differences in the characteristics of maritime piracy across categories were then quantitatively examined. The results show that the Gulf of Guinea had the largest number of pirates, and the distance from incidents to the shoreline, the weapons used by pirates, the types and status of the attacked ships, and the area that the incidents frequented varied significantly across regions. The results of this study can be used by the shipping industry to reduce the risk of maritime piracy.