Addressing a high-level debate of the Safety Council, António Guterres stated that oceans and seas are “sending a transparent SOS,” as maritime areas face escalating strain from each conventional threats and new risks – together with piracy, armed theft, trafficking, terrorism, cyberattacks and territorial disputes.
“From time immemorial, maritime routes have sure the world collectively,” he stated.
“However maritime areas are more and more below pressure…and with out maritime safety, there will be no international safety.”
Spike in piracy, assaults
The Secretary-Normal pointed to a pointy spike in piracy and armed theft at sea in early 2025, citing Worldwide Maritime Group (IMO) figures displaying a 47.5 per cent enhance in reported incidents in comparison with the identical interval final 12 months.
The rise was most pronounced in Asia, particularly within the busy Straits of Malacca and Singapore.
He additionally highlighted continued assaults on transport within the Purple Sea and Gulf of Aden by Houthi forces, disruptions within the Black Sea, and rising legal networks trafficking medication and folks throughout the Gulf of Guinea, the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
The controversy was a signature occasion of the Greek presidency of the Council. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis held the gavel, and a number of other ministers have been within the chamber.
A 90-day countdown to break down
Melina Travlos, President of the Union of Greek Shipowners, delivered a stark warning to Council members: if the worldwide transport system grinds to a halt, the world financial system will collapse in simply 90 days.
She described transport as “the silent guardian of world welfare,” noting that 90 per cent of worldwide commerce and greater than 12 billion tonnes of products rely upon maritime transport every year.
“Transport unites the world, not often, however persistently,” she stated, calling for better safety of seafarers and maritime infrastructure amid growing and extra complicated threats.
One ship, six days, billions misplaced
Christian Bueger, a professor of worldwide relations on the College of Copenhagen, reminded ambassadors that in 2021, a single ship – the Ever Given – blocked the Suez Canal for six days, costing the worldwide financial system billions.
“By no means earlier than in historical past have we been as depending on the ocean as we’re right now,” he stated, citing a 300 per cent rise in maritime commerce for the reason that Nineteen Nineties.
Mr. Bueger urged Member States to undertake a extra systematic, evidence-based method to maritime safety, urging a worldwide response that’s as interconnected because the threats it faces.
Uphold regulation of the ocean
In his remarks, Secretary-Normal Guterres laid out a three-pronged technique to strengthen maritime safety – highlighting that decisive, coordinated international motion is required no matter particular person flashpoints or transport disruptions.
These embrace upholding worldwide regulation, tackling the basis causes of maritime insecurity, and strengthening international partnerships.
He known as on all nations to uphold worldwide regulation, particularly the UN Conference on the Legislation of the Sea (UNCLOS), the worldwide treaty that units the authorized framework for all maritime actions and regulates using ocean and its assets.
“This framework is just as sturdy as States’ dedication to full and efficient implementation,” he stated.
“All States should reside as much as their obligations.”
UN Photograph/Loey Felipe
Secretary-Normal António Guterres (centre) addresses the UN Safety Council assembly on strengthening maritime safety by way of worldwide cooperation for international stability below upkeep of worldwide peace and safety.
Prioritise funding
On root causes, he urged funding in coastal communities, judicial reform and constructing maritime capability in creating international locations — from surveillance to port safety.
Alongside this, weak governance, rising poverty and lack of alternatives should be addressed.
The UN chief harassed that lasting options would require cooperation from governments, regional our bodies, the non-public sector and civil society – together with girls and ladies, who’re disproportionately affected by maritime crime.
“Collectively, we should do extra to scale back the probability that determined individuals will flip to crime and different actions that threaten maritime safety and degrade our ocean atmosphere,” he stated.
“The United Nations system stands able to help Member States to make sure peaceable, safe, and affluent maritime areas for generations to return.”
