Not to belittle Cam'ron's plight or the issue of carjacking, but sea fearing pirates are constantly on the prowl on the oceans of the world.

The world was first traumatized, 20 years ago with the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship, the Achille Lauro, by members of the Palestine Liberation Front.

Four heavily armed terrorists boarded the ship, with some 100 passengers on board, in Egyptian waters. An American tourist, 69-year old Leon Klinghoffer was shot and killed. According to eyewitness accounts, he was thrown overboard while still seated in his wheelchair.

Two decades hence, the problem has become so commonplace (3414 incidents 1992 through November 2005) that the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) broadcasts updates and warnings daily, in addition to publishing monthly and annual reports giving specific details about worldwide criminal assaults on shipping.

Through the end of November 2005, the IBM's Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships Report, "lists ships boarded in 141 instances, 15 ships fired upon and 11 ships, which were hijacked. There were 259 crew members taken hostage, 10 were kidnapped and 12 are still missing. In some incidents pirates operated in large groups and attacked vessels from different directions at the same time."

Waters off the coast of Somalia, North Africa are particularly dangerous and infested with pirates that, according to sources, do not discriminate about the kind of boats they will attack-luxury liner, oil tanker or food relief vessels.

According to Captain Pottengal Mukundan, Director of the International Maritime Bureau, "These attacks take place in international waters and we call upon the naval vessels in the region to come to the assistance of the hijacked ships. At the very least, they can prevent the hijackers from taking ships into Somali waters. Once the vessels have entered these waters the chances of any law enforcement response is negligible. There is no national law enforcement infrastructure in Somali waters."

Bruce Good, a spokesman for Miamibased Seabourn Cruise Line, a subsidiary of Carnival Corp. reports the Seabourn Spirit was attacked in November 2005 while cruising 100 miles off the Somalia coast.

"Pirates fired several rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns from two 25 ft. inflatable boats at the luxury liner. The ship outran them. One member of the 161-person crew was injured by shrapnel."

Indonesia leads all areas with 61 incidents equaling one third of all world shipping attacks.

"Violence and intimidation of crews is the hallmark of these attacks, with many of the pirates armed with guns and knives."

Noel Choong, head of the Piracy Reporting Centre of the IMB, reported in October 2005 that the Prima Indah left Pangkal Balam port and was boarded shortly after off Bagka Island in Indonesian waters.

The ship, bound for Singapore, was carrying 660 tons of tin ingots with an estimated value of several million dollars, he said.

In this incident, the 14-member crew was released and found adrift. They were taken back to Indonesia.

"Another growing concern is the attacks taking place close to Basra oil terminal in Iraq. Since April 22, 2005 there have been six serious incidents reported despite the close proximity of coalition naval ships."

The other hot spots according to the IMB include Bangladesh, Chennai, India, Malacca Straights, Singapore Straights, West Africa Coast, Gulf of Arden/Red Sea, Rio Grande, Brazil, Port Au Prince, Haiti, and Callao, Peru.