Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has issued a powerful directive calling for an immediate halt to all hostile actions against commercial shipping stemming from ongoing geopolitical conflicts worldwide.
The statement, delivered as the IMO Council meets to address escalating threats to global maritime transit, underscores a critical need to safeguard international navigational rights and protect innocent seafaring personnel.
While recent geopolitical tensions have heavily focused international attention on the Strait of Hormuz, Secretary-General Dominguez firmly reminded the global community that maritime threats are a widespread crisis. He specifically condemned a volatile spike in aggression over the past week targeting civilian merchant ships navigating the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
“I condemn all unwarranted attacks on civilian merchant vessels arising from geopolitical conflicts, wherever they occur,” Dominguez stated. “Such acts endanger seafarers, threaten the safety of navigation, disrupt global supply chains and undermine the principles upon which international shipping depends.”
The IMO is demanding that all warring factions respect international law and immediately cease hostilities that jeopardize merchant shipping and fragile marine ecosystems.
The core of the IMO’s mandate remains the human cost of these conflicts. The Secretary-General emphasized that the global supply chain relies on the safety of its workers, who are increasingly being caught in the crossfire of disputes that do not involve them.
Key demands from the IMO:
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Immediate Cessation: An end to all aggressive maneuvers and strikes against civilian vessels.
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Adherence to International Law: Strict respect for established maritime borders, navigational freedoms, and rights.
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Seafarer Protection: Absolute prioritization of the safety and security of ship crews.
“Seafarers should never become casualties of conflicts to which they are not a party,” Dominguez concluded. “Every seafarer, wherever they serve, deserves to work in safety and security.”
