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Abstract
Antipiracy activities were developed in the 1990s, particularly outside the coast of Somalia. Several international and national initiatives were taken by States and International Organizations to protect vessels in the more affected areas. The use of national armed forces and private security companies showed that problems raised by international law were quite complicated. The rules that would apply in the fight against piracy, but also concerning other international crimes that could occur on the sea, were not clearly regulated under the law of the sea and other international and national rules. This article tries to understand the problems that emerge in the quite unregulated area of the law that may affect the response by States and other entities, like International Organizations, shipping companies and security providers, in the fight against different types of crimes that may affect the international shipping trade. Even though antipiracy activities are not much in the news as in the 1990s, there is still a need for clearer regulations, standards and rules that would be applicable in addressing a series of crimes that may occur on the sea. International cooperation and coordination are an essential factor for effective responses to challenges that maritime trade is facing.