Study for the Maritime Security Awareness Test. Enhance your security knowledge with interactive quizzes, complete with detailed explanations and practice questions. Prepare thoroughly for your assessment!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


SOLAS defines piracy as which of the following acts?

  1. Acts of war between sovereign nations

  2. Violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or passengers of a private vessel or aircraft

  3. Underwater mining for personal gain

  4. Negotiating ransom in good faith

The correct answer is: Violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or passengers of a private vessel or aircraft

The definition of piracy according to SOLAS (the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) focuses on the illegal acts committed with the intent of private gain. Specifically, it highlights acts of violence or detention as well as any type of depredation perpetrated by the crew or passengers of a private vessel or aircraft. This encapsulates the essence of piracy as not just any hostile act at sea but specifically those that are motivated by the intent of financial or personal gain, distinguishing it from acts of warfare or other lawful actions. This definition is critical in maritime law as it helps to establish clear legal parameters for what constitutes piracy, ensuring that international waters remain safe and secure from illicit activities aimed at gaining personal advantage.