UN maritime agency demands release of over 90 seafarers amid Gulf of Aden piracy surge

UN maritime agency demands release of over 90 seafarers amid Gulf of Aden piracy surge
Mücahithan Avcıoğlu 24 August 2026 https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/un-maritime-agency-demands-release-...

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Monday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of more than 90 seafarers held captive amid a resurgence of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and surrounding waters.

The UN maritime agency’s Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez issued the call following reports that the SEAMULL vessel was hijacked on Aug. 20.

The hijacking brought the number of vessels held by pirates and armed robbers in the region to six, Dominguez said.

“More than 90 innocent seafarers are now being held captive, their lives subject to constant uncertainty and threat, often with limited access to adequate food, fresh water, medical support and other essential services,” he said.

Dominguez said each captive had a family enduring an “unimaginable ordeal,” often with little reliable information about the well-being of their loved ones.

“I demand the immediate and unconditional release of all those being held captive. No seafarer should face violence, intimidation or exploitation simply for doing their jobs and keeping global trade moving,” he said.

Dominguez warned that waters in the region were becoming increasingly dangerous for seafarers as piracy incidents rose.

He said the deterioration in maritime security required urgent international attention and warned that the renewed piracy threat must not be overlooked as global attention remains focused on other areas of heightened tension.

The IMO chief called on flag and coastal states to ensure vessels were adequately prepared to manage security risks and crews were not exposed to avoidable dangers.

He urged shipping operators to implement industry best-management practices and comply with the IMO’s counter-piracy guidance.

The UN maritime agency will continue supporting regional initiatives led by coastal states, including the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment, Dominguez said.

He also emphasized that sustained international naval cooperation remained essential to protecting merchant ships and their crews.

“The international community has successfully confronted this threat before, and it must do so again,” he added.