The International Maritime Organization posted on 6 July 2026 a news release titled "IMO Secretary-General Calls for Release of 44 Seafarers Held by Pirates."
Seafarers are being held aboard three detained vessels in Somali waters by pirates and armed robbers. The incidents highlight a worsening trend in maritime security in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Over the past three months the IMO has recorded 24 attempted and actual incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships in the region.
