Arsenio Dominguez, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), called on member countries to stop actions that harm commercial vessels and seafarers. This request comes as geopolitical tensions are on the rise.
Warning about the impacts of geopolitical tensions
Dominguez warned at the sub-committee meeting of the International Maritime Organization regarding cargo and container transport about the serious consequences of geopolitical tensions on the shipping industry. He stated that we are approaching a point where these conflicts are becoming an excuse for attacks on innocent commercial vessels and seafarers.
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Since the outbreak of recent conflicts in the Middle East on February 28, the International Maritime Organization has confirmed 80 attacks on international commercial vessels in waters near the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in at least 22 seafarers killed and many others injured.
Attacks in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov
In the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, reports of fatalities due to attacks on international commercial vessels have emerged in recent months. Attacks in the Red Sea have also resumed, with the latest attack by the Houthis on a commercial vessel on August 11 resulting in four confirmed deaths.
Dominguez emphasized that the attacks in these conflicts cannot be attributed to a specific entity, and several groups are attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. He added that addressing the root causes of these geopolitical conflicts goes beyond the authority of the International Maritime Organization, but their impacts on global trade and maritime operations are clearly evident.
He urged representatives of member countries to raise these impacts with their governments and in appropriate international forums. He also noted that disruptions in maritime operations have consequences beyond the shipping sector, affecting economies, supply chains, and daily lives.
He called on member countries to share these impacts with relevant authorities in their capitals so that the United Nations can address the root causes and find solutions. The IMO Secretariat is ready to assist in practical solutions for the shipping industry that member countries can advance at the technical and operational levels.
The sub-committee on cargo and container transport will meet in London from September 14 to 18 to discuss safety issues related to the transport of dangerous goods, bulk cargoes, and containers, especially at sea.
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