The International Maritime organisation's secretary-general has expressed profound sorrow after reports that five crew members died during an operation to free the hijacked vessel HONOUR 25 in the Gulf of Aden region.
Arsenio Dominguez offered condolences to the families and colleagues of the deceased and used the incident to renew his long-standing appeal for stronger measures to protect seafarers at sea. The comments were reported on 2 October 2026.
The deaths followed an operation to rescue or recover the vessel HONOUR 25, described in the report as a hijacked ship in the Gulf of Aden region. The organisation did not provide further operational details in the item summarised by reports.
IMO response
Mr Dominguez reiterated the IMO's call for concerted international action to safeguard those working at sea, underscoring the unacceptable human cost when ships and crews come under threat. His statement framed the loss as a reminder of the risks that persist along busy and vulnerable maritime corridors.
Calls for greater protection
The secretary-general's reaction pointed to a need for improved preventive measures, better coordination and enhanced support for seafarers caught in hazardous situations. He urged the international community to intensify efforts to reduce exposure to violence and to ensure that crews receive protection and assistance when incidents occur.
The report linked the secretary-general's remarks directly to the death toll from the HONOUR 25 incident, saying five crew members lost their lives during the operation to free the vessel. No further details regarding the nationalities of the crew, the identity of those conducting the operation, or the precise sequence of events were provided in the summary.
The loss has renewed scrutiny of the enduring challenge of protecting merchant mariners in regions where ships may be targeted. Shipping industry stakeholders and intergovernmental bodies have long argued that a combination of naval presence, better on-board measures, intelligence sharing and legal frameworks is necessary to reduce such tragedies.
Mr Dominguez's appeal, as reported on 2 October 2026, makes clear that the IMO sees seafarer safety as both an operational and moral priority. The organisation continues to call for practical steps that shore up protections for crews and for the diplomatic and operational cooperation needed to prevent and respond to attacks on commercial shipping.
The reports item remains the principal published report summarised here. It highlighted the IMO secretary-general's condolences and the reiterated plea for urgent, co-ordinated action to prevent further loss of life among seafarers.
Editor profile