Forty-four seafarers held by pirates
IMO S-G calls for urgent release
The seafarers have endured months in captivity amid a surge in attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has appealed for urgent international efforts to secure the safe release of forty-four seafarers held captive in Somali waters by pirates and armed robbers.
The seafarers are being held aboard three detained vessels: the MT Honour 25, Eureka and Sward, which were hijacked in separate incidents between April and May this year off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden.
Secretary-General Dominguez highlighted the dire humanitarian situation facing the crews, who are running critically low on food and water while living under the constant threat of violence.
He commented: ‘These incidents are a stark reminder that the threat posed by piracy and armed robbery to seafarers has not receded and continues to warrant vigilance and support for coordinated action.’
He spoke while addressing the IMO Council as it met in London over the period 6 to 10 July and concluded with: ‘I ask for your support in securing their safe release.’
Secretary-General Dominguez reaffirmed his commitment to working alongside flag States, coastal States, regional bodies and industry to secure the seafarers’ release and end their ordeal.
He urged shipowners and operators to take all necessary precautions to protect crews, including implementing the Best Management Practices for Maritime Security and conducting thorough risk assessments before transiting the region.
Tackling rising maritime security threats
The incidents have highlighted worsening trends in global maritime security, particularly for piracy and armed robbery in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Over the past three months alone, IMO has recorded twenty-four attempted and actual incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region, involving increasingly dangerous weapons and escalating violence against innocent seafarers.
Globally, reported incidents of piracy and armed robbery at sea increased by 17% between 2024 and 2025, rising from 146 incidents to 171.
IMO continues to monitor the situation closely and support regional anti-piracy efforts through the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment, which brings together twenty-two coastal and island States across the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden to strengthen maritime security cooperation, and capacity-building initiatives such as the Red Sea Project.
About the IMO Council
The Council met for its 137th session at IMO HQ in London. It is the executive organ of IMO and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. The Council comprises forty Member States, elected by the Assembly for two-year term.
Its agenda includes a standing item on the protection of vital shipping lanes, under which Members discuss collective action on regional maritime security, anti-piracy operations, and safe-passage frameworks across strategic global chokepoints.
Pirate attack on mv Golden Arsenal
Operation ATALANTA coordinates multi-national response
EUNAVFOR Operation ATALANTA* confirmed on 3 July the successful coordination and facilitation of the liberation of a Bulk Carrier Golden Arsenal that suffered a pirate attack at approximately 110 nautical miles NE of Bosaso, Somalia.
From the first report, Operation ATALANTA, through its Maritime Security Centre Indian Ocean (MSCIO), acted as the direct maritime-security point of contact for the vessel and her Company Security Officer, while coordinating the response with naval and regional partners operating in the area.
On 1 July, ATALANTA MSCIO received a report from the Company Security Officer of Bulk Carrier Golden Arsenalindicating that the vessel had been attacked by armed persons, reportedly equipped with assault rifles and RPGs.
The vessel’s Master reported that the crew had implemented Best Management Practices for Maritime Security (BMP-MS), stopped the vessel, activated the distress alert, and mustered in the citadel.
Navies of India and Republic of Korea assist
Operation ATALANTA HQ immediately liaised with partners in the area, including Combined Maritime Forces, the Republic of Korea Navy, the Indian Navy, the IFC-IOR, and regional maritime authorities, to support a coordinated response. A Republic of Korea Navy warship proceeded towards the vessel, followed by Indian Navy warship INS Trikand, which deployed her helicopter and boarding team.
The Indian Navy boarding team subsequently secured mv Golden Arsenal, confirmed that no pirates were onboard, and enabled the crew to leave the citadel safely. No injuries were reported although some damages to equipment and structures were observed.
Operation ATALANTA commended the rapid and professional action of the Indian Navy, whose intervention was decisive in securing the vessel and ensuring the safety of the crew. This successful outcome also demonstrates the value of timely reporting, BMP-MS implementation, and coordinated maritime-security response through MSCIO and partner naval forces.
Throughout the event, Operation ATALANTA maintained constant contact with the Master of the vessel and the Company Security Officer (CSO).
Current piracy situation
Based on the current piracy situation, it is considered likely that a Pirate Action Group (PAG) is in the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC).
A second attempted pirate attack to another Merchant Vessel took place in the surrounding area. As at 3 July there were understood to be three ongoing piracy cases in the Somali Basin involving mt Honour 25, mt Eureka and mv Sward.
Recommendations
Operation ATALANTA strongly encourages merchant and other vulnerable vessels operating in the area to maintain heightened vigilance, adhere to BMP-MS, register in the MSCIO’s Voluntary Registration Scheme, to provide the most effective monitoring and response by ATALANTA forces and their partners in countering maritime security threats.
EUNAVFOR ATALANTA remains fully committed to providing maritime security and ensuring the protection of vulnerable vessels in the region.
Further assessment and recommendations are provided through the appropriate channels with the shipping operators and updated on the MSCIO website here: https://mscio.eu/ (Visit external site. Link opens in a new tab.)
* https://eunavfor.eu/?s=atalanta (Visit external site. Link opens in a new tab.) The current EUNAVFOR rotation is commanded by a Spanish Admiral, Rear Admiral Vázquez Sanz, and the Spanish ship, ESPS Numancia is the flagship of the Operation.
Italy was leading the Force Command in the previous rotation on board Italian ship ITS Bianchi as flagship of the Operation.