The IMO chief stressed the human dimension of the issue, describing maritime security as not just technical but deeply human
In a striking address to the United Nations Security Council, the secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Domínguez, urged nations to treat maritime security as a collective responsibility requiring greater vigilance and cooperation.
Speaking at a high-level open debate on 11 August, chaired by Panama’s UN Security Council President, José Raúl Mulino, Domínguez warned that seafarers and ships remain vulnerable as they transport billions of tonnes of goods across the globe. He called on member states to base their response on prevention, innovation and cooperation, reminding them that multilateralism is key.
Domínguez outlined the range of threats undermining maritime safety. In 2024, nearly 150 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were recorded in areas including the Straits of Malacca, Singapore, the Indian Ocean and West Africa. Attacks in the Red Sea have further highlighted the fragility of freedom of navigation. He also noted that cyber-attacks, drug trafficking and fraud are increasingly destabilising ocean security, while emerging technologies bring both opportunities and risks, particularly around cybersecurity governance.
The IMO chief stressed the human dimension of the issue, describing maritime security as not just technical but deeply human. He called for constructive dialogue as the only way forward at a time when geopolitical tensions threaten shipping and endanger lives at sea.
