IMO condemns deadly attack on cargo ship off Yemen coast

International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has condemned a deadly missile strike on the cargo vessel Tihamah off the coast of Al Mokha, Yemen. The attack, which occurred in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, resulted in the deaths of six crew members. Yemeni authorities identified the attackers as Houthi militias.

Dominguez described the incident as an ‘indefensible attack on international shipping’ that threatens global supply chains and escalates regional tensions. He urged shipowners and operators to conduct thorough risk assessments and follow best management practices before transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The IMO chief also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all seafarers currently being held captive following piracy attacks in the region, emphasizing that protecting seafarers is a fundamental obligation under international law.