IMO advises against merchant ship armament amid rising piracy

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency, has advised countries to ‘strongly discourage’ merchant ship crews from using firearms for personal or ship protection against piracy. This guidance, based on a 2015 circular, argues that seafarers are civilians and that carrying weapons poses risks of accidents, could turn firearms into targets, or might escalate violence by encouraging attackers to use more dangerous weaponry.

The agency also noted that the use of private armed security personnel could lead to an escalation of violence, suggesting that the carriage of such personnel remains a matter for individual flag States to determine in consultation with shipowners and operators.

These recommendations come amid a rise in maritime piracy. According to an IMO report released in June, there were 171 successful or attempted attacks on the high seas in 2025. Currently, 90 mariners are being held hostage by Somali pirates following the seizure of an Eritrean oil tanker on August 22.