The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Arsenio Dominguez, has issued a forceful warning over escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, describing the situation as a direct challenge to global maritime stability and international law. Speaking at the France-UK Summit on Freedom of Navigation on 17 April 2026, Dominguez emphasized that freedom of navigation is “not negotiable,” underscoring the growing alarm within the international shipping community over developments in one of the world’s most strategically important waterways.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of global oil and gas shipments passes, has become the focal point of overlapping geopolitical, legal, and security disputes. According to the IMO, approximately 20,000 seafarers and nearly 2,000 vessels are currently affected by disruptions linked to the regional conflict, raising concerns about the safety of maritime personnel and the stability of global supply chains. The organization has warned that any interruption to shipping flows in the area would have immediate consequences for global energy security and food distribution networks.
Dominguez stressed that international law is clear: straits used for international navigation cannot be closed by coastal states, nor can they be subjected to tolls, discriminatory fees, or restrictive transit conditions. He warned that any deviation from these long-established principles would undermine the integrity of global maritime governance and set a dangerous precedent for other strategic waterways around the world.
At the center of the current tensions is the Strait of Hormuz Traffic Separation Scheme, a maritime corridor established by the IMO in 1968 and jointly operated by Oman and Iran. The system has for decades ensured safe navigation through one of the busiest shipping routes in the world. Dominguez highlighted that this arrangement is a mandatory safety mechanism under the IMO’s Safety of Life at Sea framework, and that compliance by all parties is essential to maintaining operational stability in the region.
The organization’s immediate concern is the welfare of seafarers currently trapped in the Persian Gulf due to ongoing instability. In response, the IMO has begun developing an evacuation framework designed to use existing maritime corridors to safely extract vessels and crews from the affected area, provided conditions allow. The plan is being developed in coordination with regional states, including Iran, and with the involvement of international partners engaged in diplomatic efforts. The IMO has stated it is prepared to implement the framework without delay once operational conditions permit.
Dominguez called on member states to intensify diplomatic efforts to uphold freedom of navigation and to reject any imposition of tolls, fees, or discriminatory transit measures in international straits. He also urged support for the evacuation plan, assistance in clearing maritime hazards such as mines when appropriate, and the provision of technical and operational civilian support to ensure the plan’s effectiveness. In addition, he stressed the importance of ensuring insurance access at reasonable cost to allow the shipping sector to resume normal operations as soon as possible.
The IMO chief also highlighted the humanitarian dimension of the crisis, praising regional countries for continuing to provide essential supplies to seafarers in the Persian Gulf and facilitate crew changes whenever conditions allow. He reiterated that seafarers should not be used as leverage in geopolitical disputes, warning that such practices risk destabilizing the entire maritime system.
Alongside the Hormuz crisis, the IMO Legal Committee concluded its 113th session in London with the approval of new international guidelines aimed at improving transparency in ship registration and combating maritime fraud. The measures respond to growing concerns about the misuse of national flags and fraudulent vessel registration practices that undermine maritime safety and legal accountability.
The committee noted a sharp rise in cases of false flag usage, with 529 ships identified as operating under fraudulent registrations in the past year. Nearly 40 member states reported unauthorized use of their national flags, often without their knowledge or consent. The new guidelines are designed to strengthen due diligence in ship registration processes, improve verification of ownership structures, and enhance oversight by flag states.
While not legally binding, the guidelines aim to close a long-standing regulatory gap in international maritime governance, as there is currently no unified global framework governing ship registration. The IMO stated that the measures will help improve safety, environmental protection, and seafarer welfare while reducing opportunities for criminal exploitation of flag systems.
The Legal Committee also strongly condemned ongoing threats and attacks against vessels in the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman, and the Gulf region, particularly near the Strait of Hormuz. It criticized reported toll systems and discriminatory transit measures, stating that such practices are incompatible with international law and the principles governing freedom of navigation.
In addition, the committee addressed the worsening global crisis of seafarer abandonment. Between January and December 2025, more than 410 new cases were recorded, affecting over 6,000 seafarers, significantly exceeding previous annual records. Additional cases have already been reported in early 2026. The committee called on member states to strengthen enforcement of the Maritime Labour Convention and ensure financial guarantees are in place to protect abandoned crews.
Another major issue discussed was the legal gap surrounding alternative fuels used in shipping. The committee acknowledged that current international liability and compensation regimes are not adequately equipped to deal with the risks associated with emerging fuel technologies. A working group has been established to explore new frameworks or amendments to existing systems to ensure legal clarity and adequate compensation in the event of incidents.
