Maritime piracy has been a serious matter challenging the international sphere and global sectors for centuries. The pirates are no longer looking for gold or treasure, though. Piracy nowadays target vessels transporting oil or goods, and additionally crew members have been taken hostage.

Global attempts to fight piracy have been met with revived attack strategies instead of a minimizing of these horrific events. If you’ve been the target of a maritime piracy attack, a maritime attorney can help you determine whether or not you hold a legal claim.

Maritime Piracy Defined

Modern-day pirate events vary from what you see in films. Today, these criminals use more advanced weaponry and more often than not strike from scaled-down motorboats. Since 2007, hundreds of ships have been attacked and crew members taken hostage.

In 1982, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea defined maritime piracy as a criminal violent act, devastation or detention for personal gain by crew of a private ship or aircraft against another ship or aircraft or its contents on the high seas.

These modern-day incidents are prominent in areas off the coast of Somalia and Nigeria, as well as between India and Sri Lanka, a place once known as The Pirate Coast. Maritime lawyers can very well assist survivors of maritime piracy against a vessel associated with an American company or a U.S.-flagged vessel, who could be eligible for compensation in accordance to the Jones Act or other legislation.

Worldwide Consequences Of Maritime Piracy

With the increasing reports of pirate incidents on worldwide commerce vessels, expenses for businesses that do overseas business are growing. Insurance premiums and freight costs are rising, in addition to the higher price of rerouting vessels and dispersing ransom for captive passengers.

Modern tactics for addressing pirate incidents are principally defensive in approach, including on-board deterrents such as security alert systems, fire hoses, deck patrols, electric screens and private marine security guards. More than a dozen nations have likewise escalated naval assistance and joined anti-piracy efforts in highly trafficked locales for small maritime criminal organizations.

The effects of these stepped up measures are considered short-term solutions, instead of targeting the problem of political and economic unrest in the countries these gangs originate from.

Can You File A Maritime Piracy Claim?

U.S. residents representing United states companies who have been victims of maritime piracy events have some options for recourse dependent upon on the conditions of the attack. Setbacks of lack of security or other claims of negligence may make the worker eligible for settlement in accordance to U.S. maritime law.

Settlement can be possible for cure and maintenance payments, in addition to other settlements. An experienced maritime lawyer could assist you to  ascertain whether a survivor of piracy is entitled to file a claim under United States or other legislation and to what scope the settlement can be attainable.

The maritime lawyers of Maintenance and Cure have achievement in dealing with maritime piracy cases. Phone us right now to get the assistance you require in filing lawsuit.