Published on: 2026-09-16
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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September 16, 2026 Peace and Security
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, called on member states to refrain from actions that endanger commercial vessels and sailors’ lives. Speaking before the IMO Subcommittee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, he warned of the serious consequences of geopolitical tensions for the shipping industry.
“Conflicts are used as a pretext for attacks on merchant vessels and innocent sailors,” Dominguez stated.
Since the beginning of the current conflict in the Middle East, which erupted on February 28, the IMO has confirmed 80 attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and its surroundings, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 sailors, with many others injured.
In the Black and Azov Seas, according to available data, dozens of people have died in recent months as a result of attacks on international shipping. The exact number of casualties is difficult to confirm, the IMO notes.
Attacks in the Red Sea have resumed: in the latest incident on August 11, the Houthis attacked a commercial vessel, resulting in four deaths.
Dominguez emphasized that no single party is behind the attacks within these conflicts.
“In the Strait of Hormuz, attacks on commercial vessels are carried out by more than one country. In the Black and Azov Seas, attacks on commercial vessels are also carried out by more than one country,” said the head of IMO.
He noted that addressing the root causes of these geopolitical conflicts goes beyond the IMO’s mandate, however their impact on global maritime trade and shipping is becoming increasingly apparent. Dominguez urged delegates to inform their governments about these consequences and to raise this issue in the appropriate international forums. According to him, when shipping is disrupted, the effects extend far beyond the maritime sector, affecting the economy, supply chains, and people’s daily lives.
“I urge you to share information about these consequences with the relevant authorities in your countries so that this issue can be properly addressed within the framework of the United Nations. It is you who must eliminate the root causes and seek solutions, in your capitals and in the appropriate UN bodies,” he emphasized.
The IMO Secretariat has announced its readiness to facilitate the development of practical solutions for the shipping industry at the technical and operational levels.
The Subcommittee on the Transport of Cargoes and Containers is meeting in London from September 14 to 18 to discuss safety issues related to the maritime transport of dangerous goods, bulk cargoes, and containers.
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