The new director-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), which has jurisdiction over ship safety, held a press conference and condemned the series of attacks on ships in the Red Sea, and called for a review of the guidelines for strengthening safety with neighboring countries and the shipping industry. We have made it clear that we are making progress.
The IMO is a United Nations specialized agency that promotes the safety of ships and ensuring smooth logistics. Dominguez, Director-General of Central America and Panama, who was appointed last month (January), held a press conference on the 1st in London, England, where the company's headquarters are located. .
Secretary-General Dominguez commented on the repeated attacks on ships by the Houthi rebel group in Yemen, the Middle East, on ships in the Red Sea and elsewhere, saying, ``They should not be targeting crew members who are working to transport goods around the world.'' He called for the immediate release of the crew members of the ``Galaxy Leader,'' a cargo ship operated by Nippon Yusen that was hijacked in November last year.
As the impact is growing, with the number of ships navigating through the Suez Canal, which connects to the Red Sea, decreasing by more than 40%, Japan is working with around 20 countries and shipping industries around the Red Sea, including Yemen, to implement anti-piracy measures to strengthen safety. It has been announced that the Code of Conduct, which stipulates cooperation in information sharing and enforcement, is being reviewed.
Secretary-General Dominguez said, ``This is an unprecedented situation, but the shipping industry can bounce back from adversity,'' and expressed his intention to work with the United Nations Security Council to ease tensions.