IMO confirms 80 attacks on shipping, at least 22 seafarers killed

September 17, 2026 at 12:04 AM2 min

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The International Maritime Organization has confirmed 80 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the current Middle East conflict began, killing at least 22 seafarers. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called on member states to refrain from actions endangering merchant vessels and seafarers' lives. The warning came as attacks have also resumed in the Red Sea, with the latest incident on August 11 killing four people.

Key Facts

The IMO has confirmed 80 attacks on international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the current Middle East conflict began.
At least 22 seafarers have been killed and many more injured in those attacks.
In the Black and Azov Seas, dozens of people have been killed in attacks on international shipping in recent months, though the exact number is difficult to confirm.
The latest Red Sea incident occurred on August 11, when Houthis attacked a merchant vessel, killing four people.
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stated that attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and in the Black and Azov Seas are not carried out by only one country.

Attacks on Shipping

Since the start of the current Middle East conflict, the IMO has confirmed 80 attacks on international shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and its vicinity. These attacks have killed at least 22 seafarers and injured many more. In the Black and Azov Seas, dozens of people have been killed in attacks on international shipping in recent months, though the IMO notes the exact number is difficult to confirm. Attacks have also resumed in the Red Sea, with the latest incident on August 11 involving a Houthi attack on a merchant vessel that killed four people.

IMO Response

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez called on member states to refrain from actions that endanger merchant vessels and seafarers' lives. Speaking before the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers, he warned of serious consequences of geopolitical tensions for the shipping industry. Dominguez emphasized that no single party is behind the attacks in these conflicts, stating that in the Strait of Hormuz and in the Black and Azov Seas, attacks on merchant vessels are not carried out by only one country. He urged delegates to share information about these consequences with their governments and raise the issue at relevant international forums, noting that disruptions to shipping affect economies, supply chains, and daily life.

Sub-Committee Session

The Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers is meeting in London from September 14 to 18. The agenda includes safety issues related to the maritime transport of dangerous goods, bulk cargoes, and containers. The IMO Secretariat expressed readiness to facilitate the development of practical solutions for the shipping industry at the technical and operational level.