The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, has called on Member States to refrain from actions that endanger merchant ships and put seafarers’ lives at risk. Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez highlighted to the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers that conflicts must not be used as a pretext for such attacks.
Since the start of the conflict in the Middle East on 28 February, the IMO has confirmed 80 attacks on merchant vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz. These incidents have resulted in at least 22 seafarer deaths and multiple injuries. In the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, fatalities from similar attacks have been reported albeit with unverified figures. Additional attacks in the Red Sea have also resumed, including a recent incident on 11 August by Houthis causing four fatalities.
Global impact on shipping
Dominguez stressed that the attacks are not limited to actions by a single country, as multiple nations have been implicated across various regions. He urged delegates to raise these impacts with their governments and address them within relevant international forums. According to the Secretary-General, disruptions to shipping operations affect global economies, supply chains, and everyday life.
While addressing the root causes of geopolitical conflicts lies outside of the IMO’s remit, Dominguez noted that their impacts are increasingly evident in global maritime trade. The IMO Secretariat remains prepared to assist in formulating solutions that Member States can propose at a technical and operational level. The Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers is meeting in London from 14 to 18 September to address safety issues related to danger in bulk cargo and containers transport.
Source: IMO — IMO briefing, dated 30 September 2026.
Compiled by the Maritime Briefs Desk from the official document. Details are as published by the issuing body; check the original for complete requirements.
