When used in the context of maritime law, barratry is the term for certain crimes committed by a vessel's captain or crew.
In general, the illegal activity classified as barratry includes any deliberate conduct that puts the vessel and/or its cargo at risk. This includes but is not limited to cargo theft, human trafficking and intentional sinking or grounding.
Historically, the term barratry has been used to describe a myriad of maritime misdeeds, including those targeting the person who owns or charters a vessel: