By Mohamed Abdi - Reporter
LONDON, July 6, 2026 (Dawan) – The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has called for the immediate release of 44 seafarers being held hostage by pirates and armed groups operating off Somalia’s coast, as attacks in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden continue to rise.
According to a statement issued by the IMO on Monday, Dominguez told the IMO Council in London that the seafarers are being held aboard three vessels hijacked between April and May: MT Honour 25, Eureka, and Sward.
He said the crews are facing increasingly dire humanitarian conditions, including shortages of food and water, as well as constant fear of violence.
"These incidents are a stark reminder that the threat of piracy and armed attacks against seafarers has not diminished," Dominguez said, urging the international community to take coordinated action to secure their immediate release.
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The IMO reported that it recorded 24 piracy and armed robbery incidents in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden over the past three months.
The organization also noted that worldwide piracy and armed attacks against ships increased by 17% between 2024 and 2025.
Dominguez called on flag states, coastal states, and shipping companies to strengthen maritime security measures, including conducting comprehensive risk assessments and following established security protocols before transiting high-risk waters.
The IMO said it will continue supporting regional cooperation initiatives, particularly the Djibouti Code of Conduct and the Jeddah Amendment, which are designed to strengthen maritime security cooperation across the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.