IMO Secretary-General Condemns Seafarer Deaths in Strait of Hormuz, Calls for Protection of Global Shipping Crews

The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, has condemned the recent deaths of seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that attacks on commercial vessels threaten global shipping and the safety of maritime workers.

In an official statement issued after a deadly maritime incident on 6 March 2026, the IMO Secretary-General said he was “alarmed and deeply saddened” by reports that at least four seafarers were killed and three others severely injured following an attack on a vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The latest casualties follow earlier incidents in the region in which two additional seafarers were killed and another reported missing, raising serious concerns about the safety of crews navigating one of the world’s most important maritime trade routes.

“My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those affected, as well as the global maritime community mourning these losses,” Dominguez said.

According to the IMO, nearly 20,000 seafarers remain on ships operating in the Persian Gulf, many of them under heightened security risks and significant mental strain as tensions continue to escalate in the region.

The Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz form a critical global shipping corridor through which a large portion of the world’s oil exports, LNG shipments, and container cargo passes each day. Disruptions or security threats in the area can significantly impact global energy markets, maritime logistics, and international trade routes.

Dominguez emphasized that seafarers should never become targets during geopolitical conflicts and called on all parties involved to ensure the protection of maritime workers, safety of commercial vessels, and freedom of navigation in accordance with international law.

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“This is unacceptable and unsustainable,” he said, urging governments, naval forces, and maritime stakeholders to take immediate steps to safeguard seafarers and maintain safe passage through critical international shipping lanes.

The International Maritime Organization continues to monitor the situation closely as maritime security risks rise across major shipping routes linking the Middle East, Asia, and Europe, prompting renewed concern within the global shipping industry.