IMO Urges Member States to Cease Attacks on Merchant Vessels
Istanbul (ANTARA) - The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has urged member states to cease actions that endanger merchant vessels and seafarers amidst escalating geopolitical tensions, on Wednesday.
Speaking before the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez warned of the serious impact of geopolitical tensions on the shipping industry.
Mr Dominguez stated that the situation has reached a point where conflicts are being used as a pretext to attack innocent merchant ships and seafarers.
Since the recent conflict in the Middle East began on 28 February, the IMO has verified 80 attacks on international shipping within and around the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 seafarers and many others injured.
In the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, dozens of fatalities have been reported due to attacks on international shipping in recent months.
Attacks in the Red Sea have also recurred, with four fatalities confirmed in the latest attack by Houthi groups against a merchant vessel on 11 August.
Mr Dominguez emphasised that these attacks across various conflicts cannot be attributed to a single perpetrator; he noted that several entities are attacking merchant ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov.
He underlined that while addressing the root causes of geopolitical conflicts lies outside the IMO’s mandate, the impact is becoming increasingly tangible to global maritime trade and shipping operations.
Mr Dominguez urged delegates to convey the issue of the impact on international shipping to their respective governments and relevant international forums.
When shipping operations face disruptions, the consequences extend far beyond the maritime sector, affecting economies, supply chains, and daily life.
He requested members to relay information regarding these impacts to the relevant authorities in their countries so that the United Nations can address the root causes and find solutions.
The IMO Secretariat stands ready to contribute to formulating practical solutions for the shipping industry that can be proposed by member states at technical and operational levels.
The Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers is holding a meeting in London from 14–18 September to discuss safety issues related to the transport of dangerous goods, bulk cargoes, and containers via sea routes.