The growing incidence of maritime piracy during the late 1970's and early 1980's prompted some trade associations, owner operators, and a few governments to take remedial action. The subsequent drop in piracies during 1984 may have been due to upgraded security or perhaps to a drop in maritime traffic. Although these attacks exposed the vulnerability of maritime vessels to armed attack including terrorism, the U.S. Government has yet to take significant steps to reduce the vulnerability of ships or port facilities. The Nation lacks even the minimal response of designating a lead agency for maritime security and developing a system to exchange information among government agencies and the private sector regarding maritime incidents of piracy and terrorism. Even without the support of the Federal Government, however, maritime trade associations can guide the development of voluntary security guidelines, and individual firms can adopt measures to detect assaults in their early stages. Government and industry should cooperate in establishing an information exchange system and in pressuring governments which harbor terrorists or pirates. 8 notes.