Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has called for urgent international action to secure the release of 44 seafarers held captive in Somali waters by pirates and armed robbers.
The seafarers are being held aboard three detained vessels, the MT Honour 25, Eureka, and Sward, which were hijacked in separate incidents between April and May off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
Dominguez described the crews as facing a dire humanitarian situation, running critically low on food and water while living under constant threat of violence.
Addressing the IMO Council as it meets in London this week (6–10 July), Dominguez said: “These incidents are a stark reminder that the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery to seafarers has not receded and continues to warrant vigilance and support for coordinated action. I ask for your support in securing their safe release.”
Dominguez reaffirmed his commitment to working with flag states, coastal states, regional bodies, and industry to secure the seafarers’ release.
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He also urged shipowners and operators to take precautions to protect crews, including implementing the IMO’s Best Management Practices for Maritime Security and conducting thorough risk assessments before transiting the region.
The incidents underline a worsening trend in global maritime security, particularly around piracy and armed robbery in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The IMO has recorded 24 attempted and actual incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region over the past three months alone, involving increasingly dangerous weapons and escalating violence against crews.
Globally, reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea rose by 17 per cent between 2024 and 2025, increasing from 146 to 171 incidents.
The IMO said it continues to monitor the situation closely and support regional anti-piracy efforts through the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment, which brings together 22 coastal and island states across the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden to strengthen maritime security cooperation. The organisation also continues to support capacity-building initiatives such as the Red Sea Project.
For more information:
International Maritime Organization – https://www.imo.org/en
