The International Maritime Organization’s Council has reaffirmed its commitment to the safety, security, health and well-being of seafarers, saying vital shipping lanes must stay open, safe and secure and that seafarers must be protected regardless of nationality, including in geopolitical disputes beyond their control.
The Council’s 138th session met at IMO Headquarters in London from 2 to 6 November 2026. It called on member states to refrain from unlawful measures that endanger seafarers and international shipping.
Casualties and attacks
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told the Council that seafarers continue to be killed, injured, abandoned and denied repatriation, and are being deprived of water, food and medical care because of ongoing conflicts. He noted the death of a seafarer after the attack on the tanker Velos Sapphire in the Strait of Hormuz on 5 November (read our report).
- 25 confirmed seafarer casualties since the Middle East conflict began
- At least 130 verified attacks on commercial vessels in the region
- Thousands of seafarers still at risk, including crews on ships unable to leave the Persian Gulf
Dominguez committed to identifying further concrete measures to prevent loss of life and ease the human cost of the crisis.
Red Sea, Black Sea and Gulf of Aden
The Council strongly condemned Houthi attacks on merchant ships and crews in the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. It also condemned Russian attacks on merchant vessels, seafarers, ports, search and rescue assets and safety services supporting Ukraine’s maritime corridor in the Black Sea. In the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, it noted a rise in piracy and armed robbery, with 17 attempted and actual incidents so far this year, and work under the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment.
Other decisions
- Renewed Dominguez’s mandate for four years, to 31 December 2031, subject to the 35th Assembly (more here).
- Approved an initial GBP 2 million to complete the GISIS upgrade and develop an e-learning platform.
- Gave the 2027 IMO Gender Equality Award to Yu Jiajia, nominated by China, to be presented on 18 May 2027.
- Noted a 97.62% collection rate for member state contributions and urged countries in arrears to pay.
- Proposed 19–23 July 2027 for the 139th session.
The issue matters to Bangladesh, which supplies seafarers to the global fleet and whose crews sail on ships through the Gulf, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Source: IMO Council 138th session, reported by Marine Insight, 7 November 2026.
