IMO calls for the urgent release of 44 seafarers held hostage by pirates off Somalia, highlighting their dire humanitarian conditions.
IMO Urges Immediate Release of 44 Seafarers Held Hostage
LONDON – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has made an urgent call to the international community for the safe and unconditional release of 44 seafarers held hostage by pirates off the coast of Somalia.
The call was made by IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez at the opening of the 137th session of the IMO Council. Dominguez emphasized that the safety of the hostages should be a priority, noting that seafarers are facing severe humanitarian conditions during their months of captivity.
According to information shared by the IMO, a total of 44 seafarers are being held hostage on three separate commercial vessels. The vessels MT Honour 25, Eurekave, and Sward were seized during pirate attacks that occurred in April and May 2026 off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
Secretary-General Dominguez stated that seafarers play a critical role in the uninterrupted continuation of global trade, asserting, 'No seafarer should be held hostage for months for performing their duty.' The IMO reported that the crew's access to food and clean water resources has reached critical levels, and health and safety conditions are deteriorating day by day.
The organization also highlighted a resurgence in piracy activities in the region. In the past three months, 24 incidents of piracy or armed attacks have been recorded in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, while the number of piracy and armed attacks on vessels worldwide has increased from 146 in 2024 to 171 in 2025.
The IMO called on all relevant parties to act in accordance with international maritime law and to expedite initiatives that will ensure the hostages are reunited with their families as soon as possible.
Maritime experts have pointed out that piracy activities off the coast of Somalia have begun to resurge in recent years, emphasizing the importance of commercial vessels enhancing security measures in high-risk areas.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
