International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has issued a direct appeal to member states to end attacks on merchant vessels and seafarers amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, Black Sea, and Red Sea, according to Ship & Bunker.
Speaking to the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, which is meeting in London from September 14 to 18, Dominguez warned that geopolitical tensions are taking an increasingly severe toll on the shipping industry, Ship & Bunker reports, citing an IMO statement issued Wednesday.
“Do Not Use These Conflicts”
“We are reaching a point where these conflicts are being used as a pretext to attack merchant vessels and innocent seafarers,” Dominguez said, according to Ship & Bunker. “Do not use these conflicts to attack innocent seafarers.”
Scale of the Attacks
According to Ship & Bunker, the IMO has verified 80 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the current Middle East conflict began on February 28, resulting in at least 22 seafarer deaths and numerous injuries.
The outlet also reports that dozens of deaths have reportedly occurred in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov in recent months due to attacks on shipping, although the IMO says exact figures remain difficult to confirm. Separately, Red Sea attacks have resumed, with four deaths confirmed following a Houthi strike on a merchant vessel on August 11, Ship & Bunker notes.
Dominguez emphasized that responsibility for these incidents is not confined to a single actor. “In the Strait of Hormuz, it is not only one country attacking merchant vessels. In the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, it is not only one country attacking merchant vessels,” he said, as reported by Ship & Bunker.
A Call to National Governments
While acknowledging that resolving the underlying conflicts falls outside the IMO’s mandate, Dominguez said their effects on global maritime trade are increasingly clear, according to Ship & Bunker. He urged delegates to escalate concerns to their own governments and relevant United Nations bodies, offering the IMO secretariat’s support on technical and operational solutions.
“I call on you to share these impacts with the relevant bodies in your countries so that this can be dealt with within the United Nations, as appropriate,” Dominguez said. “It falls to you and your capitals, and relevant bodies of the United Nations, to address the root causes and find solutions.”
Does This Matter to You?
The attacks detailed by Ship & Bunker span key chokepoints and trading routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, Black Sea, Sea of Azov, and Red Sea. Vessel operators, crewing managers, and voyage planners navigating these regions may find the verified attack figures and casualty counts relevant when assessing current transit risks. The source material does not provide further detail on specific vessel types affected, insurance responses, or rerouting patterns, so the broader operational impact beyond what is reported here is not yet clear.
Gulf Bunkering does not provide operational or security guidance. This article is for informational purposes only. Operators should consult flag state authorities, P&I clubs, and relevant advisories for decisions relating to transit planning.
Sources: Ship & Bunker
