Shipping Arabia, November 13, 2026 – The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has placed maritime security, freedom of navigation and seafarer protection at the center of discussions during the 138th session of its Council. The meeting addressed escalating threats across strategic shipping corridors, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, alongside wider challenges affecting international trade and maritime governance.
The IMO Council maritime security discussions took place in London from November 2–6, 2026, under the chairmanship of Victor Jiménez of Spain. Amani Fathallah of Morocco participated as Vice-Chair, alongside IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, representatives of member states and observers.
Egypt’s Maritime Transport Sector also participated in the meeting, represented by a delegation headed by Hussein El-Gezery.
Maritime economist Dr. Mostafa Rashid of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport outlined the meeting’s principal outcomes and their implications for Arab ports, shipping companies and maritime administrations.
According to Rashid, the session addressed five interconnected challenges: geopolitical tensions, threats to commercial vessels and seafarers, supply chain resilience, maritime digitalization and international maritime governance.
The Council also examined institutional reforms, technical cooperation, digital infrastructure and maritime training. These discussions reflected the IMO’s efforts to address immediate security risks while strengthening its capacity to respond to future industry challenges.
Maritime Security Threats Across Strategic Shipping Corridors
The protection of international shipping routes emerged as a central issue during the Council’s deliberations. Discussions covered the Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Gulf, Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, Black Sea and Sea of Azov, Western Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden and Eastern Mediterranean.
These maritime corridors play essential roles in international energy transportation, commodity trade and global supply chains.
Strait of Hormuz and Arabian Gulf
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez briefed the Council on security threats affecting commercial shipping in the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz.
According to the briefing, the IMO had verified at least 130 attacks against merchant vessels since the beginning of the Middle East conflict.
Confirmed seafarer fatalities linked to the conflict reached 25 following the death of a Filipino seafarer on November 5, 2026, after an attack involving the tanker M/T VELOS SAPPHIRE.
The briefing also highlighted the situation of thousands of seafarers facing security risks, including crew members aboard vessels unable to leave the Arabian Gulf.
The Council urged member states to avoid unlawful measures that endanger international navigation and seafarer safety. It also emphasized the need to protect seafarers regardless of nationality.
Furthermore, members called for continued engagement with relevant authorities and international organizations, closer monitoring of security developments and consideration of additional measures to reduce human casualties.
The Secretary-General was requested to provide a follow-up report at the Council’s next session.
Importantly, the Council did not announce a new military mechanism to protect the Strait of Hormuz. Instead, its conclusions emphasized international coordination, monitoring and measures within the IMO’s mandate.
Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb
The Council strongly condemned Houthi attacks against commercial vessels and their crews in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, calling for an end to these incidents.
Rashid emphasized that the security situation carries significant implications for maritime trade between Asia and Europe through the Suez Canal.
He identified several potential consequences of continued instability, including higher marine insurance premiums, increased shipping risks, vessel diversions, longer voyage durations and greater fuel consumption.
Such disruptions can also affect vessel schedules, supply chain reliability and the competitiveness of ports and logistics services.
For Egypt, the implications are particularly significant because of the relationship between Red Sea security and Suez Canal traffic.
Rashid warned that further security deterioration in the southern Red Sea could encourage additional vessel diversions around the Cape of Good Hope. This would increase transportation costs and voyage durations while affecting canal transits, revenues and related maritime services.
Black Sea and Sea of Azov
The Council also condemned attacks affecting commercial vessels, seafarers, port infrastructure, search and rescue assets and maritime safety services associated with Ukraine’s special maritime corridor.
Members reaffirmed their commitment to maritime security and freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.
According to Rashid, these developments have implications beyond the immediate conflict area. Several Arab economies depend on Black Sea markets for agricultural commodities, grain, fertilizers and energy supplies.
Consequently, disruptions in this region can affect shipping costs, marine insurance, cargo availability and the reliability of food supply chains across Arab markets.
Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden
Piracy and armed robbery were another priority, with the Council reporting 17 attempted or actual incidents in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden since the beginning of 2026.
The discussions highlighted the importance of regional cooperation under the Djibouti Code of Conduct and its Jeddah Amendment.
These frameworks support information sharing, maritime capacity building and coordination between participating states.
The Council requested that the Secretary-General continue monitoring maritime security developments and keep member states informed.
For Arab countries bordering the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, Rashid stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation among maritime administrations, coast guards and security authorities.
IMO Approves £2 Million for Digital Systems and Maritime Training
Beyond maritime security, the Council approved an initial allocation of £2 million from technical cooperation fund reserves to support two digital development initiatives.
The funding will contribute to the second phase of improvements to the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) and the development of an IMO e-learning platform.
GISIS provides maritime information to member states and supports the management and exchange of data relevant to international shipping.
According to Rashid, further development could improve access to maritime information, strengthen data sharing and support monitoring of compliance with international conventions.
It could also help national maritime administrations improve the quality of information used in regulatory and operational decision-making.
The proposed e-learning platform aims to expand access to maritime education, technical cooperation and professional development.
Potential benefits include broader training opportunities, continuing education, improved instructor preparation and reduced dependence on traditional classroom-based training.
However, Rashid clarified that the initial financial approval does not mean the projects are operational or that their implementation arrangements have been finalized.
The Council requested additional information on project costs, implementation schedules and recurring operating expenses for consideration at a future session.
For Arab maritime administrations, these initiatives could provide opportunities to strengthen digital capabilities and maritime training.
Rashid also recommended developing Arabic-language educational content aligned with international maritime standards, particularly to support countries with varying levels of technical and institutional capacity.
Council Recommends Extension of IMO Secretary-General’s Term
The Council also considered the future leadership of the organization during a closed session.
Members agreed to recommend extending IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez’s term for another four years, beginning January 1, 2028, and ending December 31, 2031.
The recommendation will be submitted to the IMO Assembly at its 35th regular session for consideration under Article 22 of the IMO Convention.
The Council’s decision represents a recommendation rather than final approval, as the Assembly retains responsibility for confirming the appointment.
Rashid emphasized that leadership continuity could support ongoing work on maritime security, digital transformation, technical cooperation and institutional reform.
He also identified opportunities for Arab countries to strengthen engagement with the IMO Secretariat and expand participation in technical programs and capacity-building initiatives.
IMO Convention Amendments Could Expand Council to 52 Members
The Council reaffirmed its commitment to implementing amendments to the IMO Convention adopted by the Assembly in December 2021 under Resolution A.1152(32).
The amendments introduce three significant institutional changes.
First, they would increase Council membership from 40 to 52 states, expanding opportunities for geographic representation.
Second, they would extend Council members’ terms to cover two consecutive regular sessions of the IMO Assembly, generally equivalent to four years.
Third, the amendments would recognize Arabic, Chinese and Russian as authentic languages of the IMO Convention alongside English, French and Spanish.
During the November 2026 session, the Council encouraged member states that had not yet accepted the amendments to complete their national procedures.
The objective is to bring the amendments into force during 2027, subject to the required acceptance process.
Rashid described these changes as particularly important for Arab countries, especially the recognition of Arabic as an authentic treaty language.
He noted that this recognition would strengthen the language’s legal and institutional standing within the organization.
Meanwhile, expanding Council membership could provide additional opportunities for participation, although elections and representation would remain governed by the Convention’s established procedures.
Rashid called for stronger coordination among Arab states to support acceptance of the amendments and improve their participation in IMO decision-making.
IMO Recognizes Contributions to Gender Equality in Maritime
The Council also considered the IMO Gender Equality Award for 2027, which recognizes contributions to advancing women’s participation in the maritime industry.
Members decided to award the 2027 honor to Yu Jiajia, nominated by China.
The Council also endorsed a recommendation to present a letter of commendation to Gemma Griffin, nominated by Denmark.
The award ceremony is scheduled for May 18, 2027, at IMO headquarters in London, coinciding with the International Day for Women in Maritime.
Rashid highlighted the relevance of this initiative for Arab maritime sectors, particularly in encouraging greater participation by women in navigation, marine engineering, port management, maritime education and research.
Strategic Implications for Arab Ports and Shipping Industries
Rashid identified several priorities for Arab maritime administrations arising from the Council’s discussions.
For Egypt and other Red Sea countries, these include stronger maritime security monitoring, improved early-warning systems and closer coordination among ports, shipping companies and relevant authorities.
He also emphasized the need to strengthen crisis management arrangements and maintain the continuity of logistics services during disruptions.
For Arabian Gulf countries, Rashid highlighted seafarer protection, maritime risk management, insurance considerations and the diversification of logistics alternatives.
He further recommended improving the ability of regional ports to manage changes in vessel movements and strengthening international cooperation on maritime security.
The Black Sea developments also underscore the importance of protecting agricultural and energy supply chains that serve Arab markets.
In addition, Rashid encouraged Arab maritime administrations to modernize port management systems, improve maritime data exchange and expand digital services for ships.
Other priorities include strengthening compliance monitoring, developing maritime training programs and building technical expertise in risk management, logistics, digital systems and artificial intelligence.
On institutional representation, Rashid called for greater Arab coordination within the IMO, including participation in technical committees and the development of joint proposals.
He also emphasized the importance of strengthening professional opportunities for Arab women across maritime operations, training and management.
The maritime economist concluded that the IMO Council’s 138th session demonstrated the growing connection between maritime security, economic stability and international maritime governance.
For Arab countries, he stressed that protecting ships, ports and shipping corridors must be accompanied by investment in technical expertise, digital infrastructure and institutional capabilities.
According to Rashid, greater participation in international maritime decision-making will be essential for Arab states seeking to protect their maritime interests and contribute to shaping the future of global shipping.
Source: Al Mal News