IMO Secretary-General Publicly Appeals for 'Urgent, Coordinated' Release of 44 Somali Piracy Hostages

International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez issued a press appeal calling for 'urgent, coordinated and decisive international intervention' for the immediate, safe and unconditional release of the crews of Honour 25 (IMO 9109735), Sward (IMO 9174244) and Eureka (IMO 1022823) — 44 seafarers held captive off Somalia. Dominguez cited 24 piracy and armed-robbery incidents in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the prior three months and a global 17% rise in incidents from 2024 to 2025 (146 to 171), ahead of addressing the IMO Council's 137th session in London two days later.