The following definition of piracy is contained in Article
101 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
(article 101):
“Piracy consists of any of the following acts:
(a)
any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation,
committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private
ship or a private aircraft, and directed:
(i) on the high
seas, against another ship or aircraft, or against persons or property
on board such ship or aircraft;
(ii) against a ship, aircraft,
persons or property in a place outside the jurisdiction of any State;
(b) any act of voluntary participation in the operation of a
ship or of an aircraft with knowledge of facts making it a pirate
ship or aircraft;
(c) any act inciting or of intentionally
facilitating an act described in subparagraph (a) or (b).”