US Navy Photo/J. Rinehart Counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden and off the east coast of Somalia. (archive) UN agency calls for release of sailors held by pirates off Somalia Peace and Security
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called on the international community to step up efforts to free 44 sailors held by pirates and gunmen off the coast of Somalia. According to him, people have been in captivity for several months, experiencing acute shortages of food and drinking water and constantly exposed to the threat of violence.
Speaking at the opening of the 137th session of the IMO Council in London, Dominguez noted that seafarers are being held on three hijacked ships – MT Honor 25, Eureka and Sward. All three vessels were hijacked in separate attacks off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden between April and May.
“These incidents serve as a stark reminder that the threat of piracy and armed robbery has not gone away and continues to require vigilance and coordinated international action,” the IMO chief said. He called on states to support efforts to quickly release the crews.
Attacks are on the rise
According to the IMO, in the last three months alone, 24 attacks by pirates and armed robbers on ships were reported either completed or thwarted in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Violence against seafarers continues to rise, and criminals use increasingly dangerous weapons.
Globally, the number of reported incidents of piracy and armed attacks at sea increased by 17 percent, from 146 incidents in 2024 to 171 in 2025.
Dominguez stressed that IMO will continue to work with flag States, coastal countries, regional organizations and the shipping industry to secure the release of captured seafarers and strengthen maritime safety.
He also called on shipowners and shipping operators to take all necessary measures to protect crews and conduct thorough risk assessments before passing through dangerous areas.
Implications of tensions in the Middle East
Dominguez also addressed the situation in the area Strait of Hormuz, noting that the recent escalation has resulted in the deaths of sailors and has had an impact on economies around the world.
“Seafarers have tragically lost their lives in connection with this conflict, and its consequences are being felt far beyond the region, with real impacts on global trade, energy and food security,” he said.
When In this regard, the head of the IMO expressed the hope that the situation will continue to improve, the injured crews will be able to return home safely, and shipping in the region will soon be fully restored.
At the current session of the IMO Council, member states will consider a draft resolution on the protection of vital sea lanes and ensuring the freedom and safety of international navigation.