The International Maritime Organization is calling for stronger implementation of global shipping rules as the maritime sector confronts attacks on merchant vessels and disruption to trade. Marking World Maritime Day on 24 September, the agency is emphasising the need to turn international agreements into national laws, effective enforcement and better training, according to an IMO report published by Hellenic Shipping News.
The initiative comes against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions affecting major waterways. The report says attacks on merchant ships in conflict zones, including the Strait of Hormuz, the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, have killed dozens of seafarers and disrupted global trade and critical supply chains. The IMO is stressing the importance of maintaining the regulatory framework intended to protect crews and keep shipping safe, secure and efficient.
In his message for the occasion, IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said the benefits of regulation depended on worldwide implementation. He placed seafarers at the centre of that effort, arguing that practical changes must improve conditions for those working at sea. The World Maritime Day theme will cover both 2026 and 2027, giving member states and partner organisations a two-year focus on converting policy decisions into operational results.
The report also highlights findings from the first completed cycle of the IMO Member State Audit Scheme. It says 168 member states, representing 94% of the organisation’s membership, have been audited on their compliance with obligations under key IMO instruments. The findings identified persistent difficulties in incorporating international rules into domestic legislation, alongside shortages of technical expertise and infrastructure and weaknesses in ship oversight.
The IMO plans to use those findings to direct technical assistance towards countries with the greatest needs, including Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States. To mark the day, its London headquarters will be lit blue. Dominguez has invited member states and intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations to illuminate prominent buildings in the same colour in support of the implementation campaign.