Summary Section B – Political Offences Unit 8 Maritime Terrorism

KRM 220 SECTION B – POLITICAL OFFENCES UNIT 8


KRM 220
SECTION B – POLITICAL OFFENCES
UNIT 8
MARITIME TERRORISM



At the end of this study unit, the student will be able to:
- Distinguish maritime terrorism from piracy
- Define maritime terrorism according to the International Maritime Bureau and the Council
for Security Cooperation in the Asia Pacific
- Discuss the motives for maritime terrorism
- Provide an exposition of the targets and modus operandi utilised by maritime terrorists
- Discuss the defining characteristics of maritime terrorism
- Discuss the nature of maritime terrorist threats


INTRODUCTION

- Modern terrorism dates back to the French Revolution
- Terrorism has shifted from land to seas too
- Maritime terrorism easy to commit due to lack of security out at sea
- First incident of maritime terrorism brought to worlds attention was high jacking of cruise
liner by Palestinian terrorists in 1985. Took place in Egyptian waters
- October 2000 – US attack
- February 2004 – Philippian attack

IMPORTANCE OF DISTINGUISHING BETWEEN MARITIME TERRORISM & PIRACY

- What defines piracy and terrorism often lies in the eye of the beholder
- Different states perceive these threats differently
- Lack of definitional agreement has significant implications and hinders sound policy
development
- Characteristics of maritime terrorism and piracy overlap
- Thus important to gain a better understanding and appreciation for those maritime threats
and the challenges they pose to the policymakers and seafarers

DEFINITIONS

- The United Nations (UN) does NOT offer a satisfactory definition for terrorism or piracy


The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) defines piracy as:
“An act of boarding or attempting to board any ship with the apparent intent to commit theft or any
other crime and with the apparent intent or capability to use force in furtherance of that act”




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