This book provides a multifaceted examination of maritime piracy, including the nations supporting this criminal activity.

Modern piracy, an introduction -- Alondra Rainbow, the phantom ship -- Antipiracy efforts -- Choizil hijacking, twenty months in "hostage hell" -- Cruise ship attacks -- Environmental threat of piracy -- Faina hijacking, dangerous cargo -- Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea -- Hostages seized on land -- Hostages seized at sea -- Le Ponant hijacking, France responds to piracy -- Lynn Rival hijacking, the Chandlers' ordeal -- Maersk Alabama, a captain's courage -- Prosecuting pirates -- The Quest hijacking, a deadly confrontation -- Sirius Star, the first hijacked supertanker -- Somalia, a haven for modern pirates -- Southeast Asia and piracy.