Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has reported 24 attempted and actual cases of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in the past three months, marking a notable rise in risks for seafarers. These incidents include three separate attacks in April and May, during which 44 seafarers were detained aboard vessels and now face dwindling supplies of food and water, as well as ongoing threats of violence, according to IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez.
The IMO Secretary-General emphasized that these events highlight the persistent threat posed by piracy at sea and the need for vigilant and coordinated responses. The increase in attacks has involved more dangerous weapons and heightened violence towards seafarers. Globally, incidents rose by 17%, from 146 in 2024 to 171 in 2025, signaling an escalating problem.
Since 2009, 22 coastal and island states in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden have committed to combating piracy under the IMO's Djibouti Code of Conduct and its 2017 Jeddah Amendment. The IMO also supports regional capacity building through its Red Sea Project to enhance navigation safety for seafarers in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen.
In related efforts, the IMO evacuated 2,500 seafarers from the Strait of Hormuz last month before suspending the operation after a container ship was attacked in the Gulf of Oman. The agency had aimed to evacuate a total of 11,000 mariners stranded on roughly 600 vessels amid ongoing tensions from the US-Israeli conflict with Iran and subsequent counterstrikes. As of now, 115 ships participated in the evacuation. The IMO is seeking assurances from conflicting parties to resume these operations safely.
Mr. Dominguez reiterated the IMO’s commitment to working with flag states, coastal states, regional organizations, and industry stakeholders to secure the release of the detained seafarers and enhance crew protection measures as threats continue to rise.