No global security without maritime security, UN maritime chief says

HAMILTON, Canada

The head of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) on Monday warned that global security cannot be achieved without safeguarding the seas, stressing the need for stronger cooperation against piracy, cyber threats, and environmental risks.

"Shipping is one of the great enablers of the global economy," IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez told the UN Security Council, noting that in 2024, the sector moved over 12.3 billion tons of goods with just 1.9 million seafarers.

Emphasizing that "resilience cannot breed complacency," he said: "The safety and security of the maritime sector is fundamental to economic stability, sustainable maritime development, and livelihoods."

Dominguez said nearly 150 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were reported last year, with the highest numbers in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Indian Ocean, and West Africa.

"These attacks jeopardize vessels and cargo — and the lives of seafarers and the integrity of global trade," he said, adding: "Security threats go beyond piracy."

Calling for prevention, innovation, and "continuously strengthened regional and international cooperation," he noted that "maritime safety and security and environmental stewardship go hand in hand. Maritime security is not just technical; it is deeply human."

Dominguez also stressed the key role of multilateralism, describing maritime security as "a shared responsibility" because "the ocean connects us all" and "shipping and seafarers' lives depend on your shared commitments to safe and secure navigation."

Interpol's Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza has warned that as ports adopt automated systems, cyberattacks are going to become an increasingly serious threat.

"Ports are facing a wave of cyber intrusions targeting the power, communication, and logistics systems they rely on," he said, adding that criminals can "weaponize artificial intelligence to attack with greater speed, scale, and precision."

Urquiza described INTERPOL as "a trusted Global Information Hub" linking 196 member countries and said its databases were accessed "over 8 billion times a year." He urged states to see the agency as a "partner of choice" in securing seaports and preventing maritime-linked crimes.

For his part, Ricaurte Vasquez Morales, CEO of the Panama Canal Authority, highlighted the canal's role in efficiency and climate goals, noting it saves vessels "thousands of miles of navigation" and prevents "up to 16 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions" annually.

HAMILTON, Canada

Dominguez said nearly 150 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were reported last year, with the highest numbers in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, the Indian Ocean, and West Africa.

"These attacks jeopardize vessels and cargo — and the lives of seafarers and the integrity of global trade," he said, adding: "Security threats go beyond piracy."

Interpol's Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza has warned that as ports adopt automated systems, cyberattacks are going to become an increasingly serious threat.