An Arria-formula meeting on “ Maritime Safety and Security: Protection of Seafarers” was held at the United Nations on Friday, organised by Greece and non-Council members India and the Philippines. Denmark and Panama were co-sponsoring the meeting with non-Council members Japan and Romania. Ambassador Aglaia Balta of Greece made the opening remarks, and Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez made welcoming remarks.

The briefers included government officials and academic experts from Greece, the Philippines, India and officials of the Masters and Mates Union of the Greek Merchant Marine.
The Permanent Representative of Greece to the UN, Ambassador Balta, emphasised that the discussion will provide an insight into the various challenges that seafarers face in recent times “taking into account the increase of threats to maritime security.”

“ Their well-being, their mental and physical health, their training and their safety are integral elements of maritime peace, security and prosperity,” she noted.

Balta underlined that “ we are committed to promoting these goals in close cooperation with Member States, stakeholders, the IMO and the ILO.”

She also thanked the co-organisers and co-sponsors for arranging the event and all participants for their valuable contributions.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez stressed that shipping “ carries more than 80% of world trade” and relies on “ 1.9 million seafarers,” highlighting that “ without seafarers, there is no shipping, no shopping.” He expressed deep concern over the rise in attacks, piracy and threats, noting that these “ violate international law and the freedom of navigation” and that they are “deplorable and unjustifiable”.

He referred to the IMO’s efforts to promote regional cooperation through mechanisms such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct and the Yaoundé Code of Conduct to combat piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as to address the growing problems of abandonment, detention and harassment of seafarers.

Finally, he highlighted the crucial role of women in shipping and set out three priorities: protecting ships from attacks, fully implementing IMO-ILO international instruments, and effectively integrating the protection of seafarers into security strategies, including meaningful participation by women. “ Protecting those who work at sea, is our shared responsibility,” he concluded.

Hellenic Coast Guard Captain Antonios Doumanis stressed that seafarers are “ the quiet force powering global trade,” yet their role is often neglected, as was evident during the pandemic and the recent security crises in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Guinea and maritime accidents. He noted the increase in piracy and armed robbery, stating that these “ high-risk zones” force companies to change routes with economic and environmental consequences. He also recalled the recent attack on a Greek-owned vessel, in which “ the crew remained locked down for more than 30 hours.”

Doumanis described the abandonment of crews as “ an unacceptable practice” that has increased over the past five years and emphasised that “ the rights of seafarers must not be suspended in times of crisis.” He also stressed that the international legal framework – UNCLOS, IMO conventions and the Maritime Labour Convention – must be strictly applied. Concluding, he underlined that UN-IMO-ILO cooperation is essential for “ a safer working environment for all seafarers.”

The organisers highlighted the “ inherent link between the protection of seafarers and the preservation of international peace and security,” emphasising the risks seafarers face due to conflicts, terrorist acts, pandemics, piracy and attacks in conflict zones. They underscored the need to strengthen security for the two million seafarers who sustain global maritime trade.

According to several UN Security Council member states, piracy off Somalia and in the Gulf of Guinea, as well as Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, remain matters of high priority. It is noted that the Security Council has adopted relevant Resolutions – 2722 (2024) and 2787 (2024) – calling for an immediate end to the attacks and establishing monthly briefings.

Greece has made maritime security a key priority of its term on the Security Council. In addition to this meeting, it organised an open debate in May 2025 and a side event in September 2025 during the General Assembly, focusing on the freedom of navigation.

Denmark and Panama also actively promote the issue in Security Council discussions.
Many states during the discussion referred to the importance of implementing UNCLOS.