Liberia Presses IMO on Shipping Security as Flagged Vessels Face Attacks Near Hormuz, Black Sea

Published: November 2, 2026

LONDON — Liberia will press the International Maritime Organization this week for stronger protection of international shipping lanes, its maritime chief said, as Liberian-flagged ships continue to come under attack in and around the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea.

Neto Zarzar Lighe Sr., commissioner and chief executive officer of the Liberia Maritime Authority, is leading Liberia’s delegation to the 138th session of the IMO Council, which runs Monday through Friday in London. In a statement issued Sunday evening by Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the IMO, Lighe said the security of shipping lanes and the safety and welfare of seafarers remain paramount concerns for Liberia, citing what the mission called unprovoked attacks on Liberian-flagged vessels.

“The safety and protection of seafarers and the security of international shipping lanes are matters of critical national importance to Liberia. As a leading maritime nation, Liberia will continue to champion these principles and advocate for stronger international cooperation to safeguard global shipping,” Lighe said.

The five-day Council session is set to take up maritime security, the protection of international shipping lanes, seafarers’ safety and welfare, freedom of navigation and cooperation among member states, according to the mission.

Liberia holds a Category A seat on the IMO Council and operates the world’s largest ship registry by gross tonnage, the mission says. The stakes for Liberia are direct: attacks on ships flying its flag fall on a registry that is a major source of government revenue.