IMO Sec-Gen: Civilian seafarers are not combatants and should never be a target

May 1 ------ In a recent interview to UN News, Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO, pointed out that blockading of ships in the Strait of Hormuz demonstrates how ships and seafarers have become “leverage in geopolitical disputes.”

Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO spoke to UN News. Since conflict began with the US-Israeli bombing of Iran in late February, up to 20,000 seafarers have been stranded on some 2,000 vessels in the Persian Gulf, which is bordered by Iran to the north, unable to pass safely through the narrow waterway.

Maritime security and global dependence on shipping

Dominguez defined maritime security as the protection of “ships, ports, seafarers, and maritime infrastructure from any type of security threat,” including piracy, terrorism, cyberattacks, trafficking, and smuggling. He emphasized its global importance, stating that: "maritime security is essential because it protects global trade, ensures the safety of seafarers, and keeps supply chains functioning."

Strait of Hormuz crisis and civilian risk

He pointed to the Strait of Hormuz situation as a stark example of vulnerability in conflict zones, where “ships and crews are highly exposed in conflict zones,” and commercial vessels have been detained or attacked. He stressed that civilian merchant vessels are being exposed to modern forms of warfare, including drone and projectile strikes, despite having no defensive capacity. "Civilian seafarers are not combatants and should never be a target," Dominguez highlighted.

Evolution of maritime threats

Dominguez also traced how maritime security threats have evolved, citing examples such as the 1985 hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro, the impact of the 2001 September 11 attacks on concerns about maritime vulnerability, and piracy off Somalia in the early 2010s, alongside armed robbery in regions like the Gulf of Aden and Gulf of Guinea.

As the Sec-Gen pointed out, today, emerging risks include cyberattacks on navigation and port systems, sabotage of undersea infrastructure, drone attacks on ships, and vulnerabilities linked to autonomous vessels.

Critical chokepoints and global impact

He highlighted key global chokepoints such as the Suez Canal, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Strait of Hormuz, Straits of Malacca and Singapore, Turkish Straits, and the Panama Canal. He warned that disruption in any of them would have “major global consequences for trade and for food security for populations worldwide.”

Responses and limits of military protection

To address these challenges, he stressed the importance of information sharing, risk assessments before voyages, and international cooperation. However, he cautioned that “naval escorts are never a sustainable solution,” emphasizing instead diplomacy, de-escalation, and capacity-building as the most effective long-term responses.

Source: safety4sea.com