Chokepoints and conflict: How the Hormuz crisis is exposing global shipping vulnerabilities in International Shipping News 28/04/2026 The blockading of ships in the Strait of Hormuz as a result of the conflict between the United States and Iran has demonstrated how ships and seafarers have become “leverage in geopolitical disputes,” according to the head of the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO). Since conflict began with the US-Israeli bombing of Iran in late February, up to 20,000 seafarers have been stranded on some 2,000 vessels in the Persian Gulf, which is bordered by Iran to the north, unable to pass safely through the narrow waterway. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the IMO spoke to UN News ahead of a key meeting about maritime security due to take place in the Security Council on Monday. UN News: What is maritime security? Arsenio Dominguez: Maritime security covers the protection of ships, ports, seafarers, and maritime infrastructure from any type of security threat, such as piracy, terrorism and cyberattacks. © IMO/Cihancan Tunay A ship makes its way across an ocean. For States with a coastline, it encompasses, in addition, a wide range of illicit activities that may involve the sea, ships, ports or coasts, including arms and drug trafficking, the illegal trade in wildlife, crude oil theft, human trafficking and smuggling and the illegal dumping of toxic waste. UN News: Why is maritime security so important? Arsenio Dominguez: Maritime security is essential because it protects global trade, ensures the safety of seafarers, and keeps supply chains functioning. Without maritime security, maritime development stalls – and without maritime development, sustainable development becomes impossible. UN News: What has the current crisis in the Strait of Hormuz told us about the threat to shipping and seafarers in conflict situations? Arsenio Dominguez: It shows that ships and crews are highly exposed in conflict zones, often becoming leverage in geopolitical disputes. Commercial shipping has been unjustifiably targeted, detained, or attacked, highlighting how fragile freedom of navigation can be. ©IMO/Marco Theo G. Caliwag A seafarer works on a ship at sea. UN News: What mechanisms can realistically protect seafarers caught in geopolitical conflicts? Arsenio Dominguez: Information sharing is crucial. Dis-information and misinformation can make it extremely challenging for risk-based voyage planning. Ship operators and companies must ensure risk assessments are taken before any voyage through or in a conflict area. Diplomacy and de-escalation of conflict is essential, while the case for naval escorts is limited. Naval escorts are never a sustainable solution. UN News: How have the threats to maritime security evolved over the past few years? Arsenio Dominguez: Looking back at maritime security historically, the hijacking of the Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro, in October 1985, was a significant terrorist act. The events of September 11 (2001) in the United States of America raised the question of the vulnerability of ships and, in particular, the possibility of shipping being used as a vector of terrorist activity. Incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were first highlighted at IMO in the late 1980s, with a surge of reported incidents in Asia With the rise of Somalia-based piracy in the early 2010s, focus turned to piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Western Indian Ocea