@Robert Gentel,
Piracy seems to be a thriving criminal enterprise still in this day and age, as you can see here:
Quote:Mr Armstrong is an adviser to the Lloyd’s War Risk Committee. He said that the committee constantly updated its list of dangerous waters. Formerly risky areas such as Egypt, Yemen, Sri Lanka, Angola and Iran had been removed from the list, he said, while Thailiand, the Malacca Straits and Somalia were new additions. Balik Papan, the waters off Borneo, are the most dangerous in the world, according to the committee.
rest of article here