Geopolitical instability and climate-driven regulation are converging to create a uniquely challenging operating environment for global shipping.
Armed conflicts, sanctions regimes, and regional security crises are increasingly intersecting with the industry’s efforts to decarbonise, enhance safety, and maintain continuity of trade.
At a recent press briefing, we questioned Arsenio Domínguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), on how the organisation balances environmental objectives with the operational realities of geopolitical disruption.
Referencing events such as the ongoing Red Sea conflict, we asked whether prolonged instability could undermine progress towards the IMO’s net-zero ambitions while complicating the delivery of safe and efficient maritime transport.
Domínguez highlighted the breadth of challenges currently shaping the maritime landscape, pointing to sanctions, security incidents in the Red Sea, instability in the Black Sea, piracy, substandard vessels, and the growth of fraudulent ship registries. While acknowledging the scale of these pressures, he stressed that IMO regulations remain firmly focused on improving safety, security, and environmental performance, even as the external risk environment evolves.
He also underlined measurable improvements achieved through regulatory oversight and industry compliance. Reductions in oil pollution incidents, for example, reflect not only tighter environmental standards but also advances in vessel design, construction, and operational procedures. Domínguez noted a continued decline in serious casualties and total ship losses, with 24 losses recorded last year – “still unacceptable,” he said – but indicative of sustained progress in risk mitigation.
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Some threats, Domínguez explained, require rapid and adaptive responses. The IMO has previously worked closely with industry to introduce operational guidance in response to piracy, demonstrating how information-sharing and best practice dissemination can quickly improve safety outcomes. Emerging risks, such as the use of drones in attacks on vessels, however, fall outside traditional maritime training frameworks. In such cases, seafarers must rely on external support mechanisms and coordinated responses from states and international partners.
Reflecting on the unpredictability of recent years, Domínguez noted that even the most robust preparedness frameworks cannot anticipate every disruption. “No one expected a pandemic, or the scale of conflict we are seeing today,” he said. Nevertheless, he reaffirmed the IMO’s commitment to multilateral cooperation and dialogue, expressing optimism that political conditions will eventually stabilise and restore stronger support for global shipping.
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The organisation has also applied lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, Domínguez said, particularly in relation to crew welfare and access to medical care. Ongoing updates to the IMO’s facilitation framework aim to ensure seafarers can receive timely assistance in ports, even during periods of heightened disruption.
Despite the complexity of the current operating environment, Domínguez reiterated that the IMO’s long-term objectives remain unchanged: eliminating pollution, reducing accidents, and preventing injuries and loss of life at sea. Each incident is systematically analysed, with findings feeding back into regulatory and operational improvements across the sector.
Addressing concerns over potential delays to climate targets, Domínguez acknowledged that geopolitical pressures have contributed to revised timelines, including adjustments agreed in the past year. However, he reaffirmed the IMO’s commitment to achieving sector-wide decarbonisation around 2050, in line with the 2023 GHG Strategy, emphasising continued engagement with governments, industry, and maritime service providers to maintain momentum.
For more information:
IMO – https://www.imo.org/
