I`ve been wandering if someone have ever achieved thalassokratia and have become the ruler of the seas.

Pirates come from anywhere at anytime and ships are quite costly. Is it possible to get rid of them? Achieve thalassokratia is as impossible to achieve as augustian reforms?

BTW, where can I find a list of those roman provincias? I have about 40 settlements and only got sicily and korsim/sardim provinces.