This thorny problem is becoming more expensive to deal with, and more dangerous for crews. Some vessels have been forced to return to a previous port to take stowaways back. There is a notable trend toward armed intervention by stowaways when they are discovered. The vessel last contacted her owners at 1850 hours local time that same day. The vessel could have changed her name, flag and particulars.
Some areas are more dangerous than others.
This article in The Wood Report , in 1996, shed light on the problem. The captain also outlined a potential solution for yacht owners. The face of piracy in American waters. This Washington Post article sheds more light on the piracy problem in 1997. U.S. News and World Report explored the problem in June 1997.