By Abbas Nazil
Shipping, which transports around 80 percent of global commerce via more than 100,000 vessels daily, faces growing threats from geopolitical tensions, transnational crime and emerging cyber vulnerabilities, the United Nations Security Council was told on Monday during a debate convened by Panama.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said that in 2024, 1.9 million seafarers moved over 12.3 billion tonnes of goods, keeping global trade afloat, but warned that resilience in the sector must not lead to complacency.
He stressed that maritime safety and security are vital for economic stability, sustainable maritime development and livelihoods worldwide.
According to the IMO, nearly 150 incidents of piracy and armed robbery were reported in 2024, with Southeast Asia experiencing a surge in such attacks.
Additionally, shipping in the Red Sea has come under fire amid the ongoing war in Gaza, while trafficking in drugs, endangered wildlife, protected timber, weapons and other illicit goods continues, often financing organized crime operations.
INTERPOL Secretary-General Valdecy Urquiza told the Council that maritime routes, historically the world’s first global network, are increasingly exploited by criminals who threaten navigation, trade and global stability.
He said “poly-criminality at sea” is making enforcement more complex as ports face a rise in cyber intrusions targeting power, communications and logistics systems.
Urquiza warned that cybercriminals could use artificial intelligence to attack with greater speed and precision, creating vulnerabilities that outpace current security measures.
In response, the IMO has introduced binding requirements for ship and port security, including measures against cyber threats, and has strengthened cooperation with the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, INTERPOL, regional bodies and donor states to improve national capacities and build trust.
Dominguez also urged that environmental protection must remain a priority, noting ongoing efforts to enhance responses to maritime pollution incidents such as oil spills.
Panama Canal Authority CEO Ricaurte Vásquez Morales highlighted the Canal’s role as a neutral and vital maritime corridor, safeguarded by an international treaty ensuring equal access to all nations in peace and war.
He noted that under Panamanian administration since 1999, the Canal has increased cargo volumes by 50 percent, following the completion of a third set of locks in 2016, while maintaining about 13,500 annual transits.
Vásquez Morales said the Canal has adapted to climate change impacts, including drought, by implementing water conservation, building an artificial lake, and adopting technologies to boost climate resilience, cyber security and efficient governance.
He concluded that sustained cooperation, adaptation and commitment to international law will keep global maritime routes secure and efficient for future generations, preserving both waterways and the channels of peace and solidarity.