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International Maritime Organization Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez condemns projectile attack on cargo ship Tihamah off Al Mokha, Yemen, on August 11 that killed several seafarers
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Attack is believed to be the first fatal strike on shipping in the Red Sea/Gulf of Aden since the Middle East conflict escalated following US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February
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Dominguez urges shipowners to reassess risk before transiting the region and renews call for the release of seafarers still held captive after earlier piracy attacks
The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, has condemned a deadly attack on a cargo ship off the coast of Al Mokha, Yemen, that killed several seafarers, calling it an “indefensible attack on international shipping.”
The vessel, the Tanzania-flagged Tihamah, was hit by an unidentified projectile in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on August 11 while sailing from Salalah, Oman, via Djibouti.
British maritime risk group Ambrey and Yemeni sources said two Pakistani nationals and one Indonesian crew member were killed in the attack.
If confirmed, the deaths would mark the first fatalities from a Houthi strike on a ship since the Middle East conflict was triggered by US-Israeli attacks on Iran at the end of February. The Houthis had declared a maritime embargo against Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea on July 20, in response to what they described as a Saudi siege — a characterization Riyadh denies.
As of the latest reports, the Houthis had not claimed responsibility for the attack on the Tihamah.
The incident comes amid a broader deterioration in shipping conditions through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.
Vessel traffic through the strait has fallen sharply since the blockade was declared, dropping from around 50 ships a day to 32.
Following the attack, Dominguez issued the following statement:
“It is with sadness and regret to know that, once again, innocent seafarers have lost their lives in an indefensible attack on international shipping. I offer my deepest condolences to the families of those involved.
It is particularly troublesome that the most recent attack has taken place in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden area. I reiterate my call for shipowners and ship operators to thoroughly assess risks before transiting this and other regions and follow appropriate best management practices. Seafarers deserve to be protected and allowed to do their jobs in safety and security.
These continued attacks on shipping only serve to escalate tensions and threaten global supply chains on which everyone depends.
I also urge the immediate and unconditional release of all seafarers who continue to be held captive following piracy attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region.
Ensuring seafarer safety is a fundamental obligation under international law and a shared responsibility of the global community.”
The attack adds to a growing list of incidents targeting commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since the conflict began, with vessels of varying flags and ownership struck by missiles, drones, and small-boat attacks over the past two years.
The IMO has repeatedly urged the international community to protect freedom of navigation and the safety of seafarers navigating the region.
