Since the escalation of conflict following the US–Israeli bombing of Iran in late February, the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters in the Persian Gulf have become highly volatile, leaving up to 20,000 seafarers stranded on around 2,000 vessels. Ships have been unable to safely navigate the narrow and strategically vital waterway, highlighting the growing risks faced by global maritime trade in conflict zones.
In an interview ahead of a UN Security Council discussion on maritime security, International Maritime
Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez explained that maritime security refers to the protection of ships, ports, seafarers, and maritime infrastructure from threats such as piracy, terrorism, cyberattacks, and broader criminal activities including trafficking and illegal trade. He emphasized that maritime security is essential for safeguarding global trade, protecting seafarers, and maintaining the stability of supply chains, without which sustainable development cannot be achieved.
The current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has exposed how vulnerable commercial shipping becomes during geopolitical conflicts. According to Dominguez, ships and crews are increasingly used as leverage in political disputes, with cases of detention, targeting, and attacks demonstrating the fragility of freedom of navigation. He stressed that civilian seafarers, who are not combatants, should never be drawn into or targeted by conflicts.
Addressing protection mechanisms, he highlighted the importance of accurate information sharing to support safe voyage planning and reduce risks caused by misinformation. He also noted that shipping companies must conduct thorough risk assessments before entering conflict zones, while diplomacy and de-escalation remain the most effective long-term solutions. Naval escorts, he added, are not a sustainable or sufficient response to such complex threats.
The interview also outlined how maritime security threats have evolved over time, from piracy and armed robbery in regions like the Gulf of Aden and West Africa to major terrorist incidents and post-9/11 security concerns about the use of shipping in attacks. More recently, new risks have emerged, including cyberattacks on navigation systems, sabotage of undersea infrastructure, drone strikes, and vulnerabilities linked to autonomous vessels, all of which increase pressure on global shipping systems.
Dominguez identified several critical global maritime chokepoints that remain highly vulnerable, including the Suez Canal, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Strait of Hormuz, Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Istanbul and Çanakkale Straits, the Marmara Sea, and the Panama Canal. Disruptions in any of these routes, he warned, would have severe consequences for global trade and food security.
The IMO continues to play a central role in strengthening maritime security by supporting international cooperation, improving legal frameworks, enhancing information sharing, and building capacity in vulnerable states. It also promotes the implementation of international maritime law, including UNCLOS, while advocating for seafarer safety and humanitarian protections amid rising global security challenges.
