A quick review around the globe reveals the maritime piracy phenomenon in some key locations where a high volume of ships transit through isolated vulnerable waters. Maritime piracy increases the risk to maritime security through the threat of forcible entry and kidnapping of crews by pirates, holding them and their cargo ransom until payment is received. Such incidents add to the costs of secure transit, in the form of increased insurance rates, personnel security and force protection requirements, in addition to the list of global threats often accepted by commercial shipping firms as part of the cost of doing business. There are other maritime threats of equal or greater concern, such as illicit trafficking of arms, drugs, humans, and even illegal commercial fishing, that must be challenged with a comprehensive, regionally-coordinated effort like the current global counter-terrorism campaign. Any one of these illicit activities could also potentially have a connection to maritime piracy.