Last April, the USS Bainbridge was integral in rescuing Captain Philips of the Maersk Alabama. The hostage situation brought the growing issue of Somali piracy to the forefront of public attention. This month, Scott Carney has detailed the piracy enterprise in Wired, with an economic analysis and an intriguing Q&A with an ocean hijacker.

Armed men are expensive as are the laborers, accountants, cooks and khat suppliers on land. During long negotiations our men get tired and we need to rotate them out three times a week. Add to that the risk from navies attacking us and we can be convinced to lower our demands.

Wired even includes a strategy game — where your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to vicariously live out this difficult managerial occupation. Makes you think twice about hijacking a ship on open waters, eh?

(photo via wikimedia)