Once the pirates move in on their subject, they hop aboard, eventually overtaking the vessel and its crew, both of which are sometimes never to be found again. Often armed with sophisticated weaponry such as machetes, assault rifles and grenade launchers, pirates move about the high seas via speedboats and fishing boats in search of the world's largest, lucrative vessels, mainly supertankers, cargo ships and cruise ships - along coasts or international waters. They can range anywhere from local seaman looking for a quick and easy fix, to highly-experienced guerillas, rogue military units or former seafarers recruited by high-level crime organizations. Often depicted as high-class rumrunners by the movie industry, pirates are anything but. Since approximately 95 percent of the world's commerce is transported via ship, including 60 percent of the world's crude oil, it is therefore easy to suspect the potential for an economic and environmental disaster is rather high. It is a little-known fact, which Burnett reveals, that off the coasts of nearly all continents, pirate attacks worldwide amount to several thousand each year. Burnett holds readers with his exploration of resurgence of piracy and also explains why this subject is increasing at such a rapid rate. Following this harrowing experience, Burnett was prompted to investigate further the world of modern-day piracy - world that is as shocking as it is terrifying.ĭangerous Waters: Modern Piracy and Terror on the High Seas (Dutton, $24.95), provides an investigative look into maritime terrorism on the world's oceans. However, with luck on his side, Burnett, who is a journalist and professional seaman, survived.

Sailing solo across the South China Sea to Singapore - one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world - Burnett was attacked by pirates. Burnett's experience onboard his sloop Unicorn in January 1992. A tale of survival could best describe John S.

Dangerous Waters by John S. Burnett