By
Alex Smith |
The International Maritime Organization’s secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez has addressed the United Nations Security Council, calling for increased vigilance and deeper cooperation among member states and international partners to address growing threats to global maritime security.
Dominguez outlined the risks facing ships and seafarers as they sailed worldwide at a time of geopolitical tension, emphasising the responsibility of states to uphold their obligations under established international standards for safety, security, and environmental protection in shipping.
“Our collective response must be rooted in prevention, constant vigilance, innovation, and continuously strengthened regional and international cooperation,” he said. “Multilateralism is key here. Maritime security is a shared responsibility.”
Dominguez reported that in 2024, nearly 150 piracy and armed robbery incidents were reported to the IMO, with the highest numbers recorded in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Indian Ocean, and West Africa. That same year, unlawful attacks in the Red Sea targeted ships in violation of international law and freedom of navigation.
He noted that cyber-attacks, drug trafficking, and fraudulent activities continue to undermine maritime security, while emerging technologies bring both opportunities and risks, highlighting the urgency of strong cybersecurity governance.
“When geopolitical tensions disrupt shipping and innocent seafarers lose their lives, as we have seen recently in the Red Sea Area and during 2024, the only way forward is constructive dialogue,” said Dominguez. “Maritime security is not just technical – it is deeply human.”
Dominguez also thanked the Security Council for resolutions calling for an immediate end to attacks on international shipping and for continued monitoring of the situation.
The secretary-general noted that the IMO has developed several binding measures to mitigate these issues such as the 2004 International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code), the 2005 revised protocols for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts at Sea (SUA treaties), and cybersecurity requirements integrated within mandatory Safety Management Systems.
He also highlighted capacity development projects that strengthen regional responses, with an emphasis on information sharing and cooperation. Notable frameworks cited by Dominguez include the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment (DCOC/JA), and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct (YCOC) among West and Central African nations.
Dominguez also referenced partnerships with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), INTERPOL, regional bodies, and donor Member States, mentioning initiatives such as the EU-funded Red Sea Programme and Port Security Project.
The high-level open debate was chaired by the president of Panama, José Raúl Mulino, and aimed to promote innovative, inclusive, and cooperative approaches to enhancing maritime security that strengthen multilateralism and uphold the international legal framework.
The secretary-general’s full statement is available on the IMO website.