Older piracy could be undertaken opportunistically by junk crews that already possessed the ordinary skills of coastal sailing. Steam propulsion narrowed that field because seizing and operating a modern vessel demanded specialized knowledge of machinery and commercial shipping practice. Piracy became more professionalized rather than disappearing. Hong Kong remained the center of the new problem because its concentrated trade offered the richest prizes. Interwar pirates could therefore be fewer and more specialized while still posing a serious threat to modern maritime commerce.
Notable Point · 13:19-15:02
Steamships professionalize piracy around Hong Kong
Steam propulsion narrowed piracy from an opportunity open to many sailing crews into an activity requiring knowledge of modern shipping.