The Government of Liberia has strongly denounced a missile strike on a Liberian-flagged commercial vessel operating near Saudi Arabian waters, an attack that left one crew member injured and ultimately caused the ship to sink.
The matter was brought before the International Maritime Organization (IMO) during a special session by Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the maritime body, Robert Moncio Kpadeh, who informed member states about the incident shortly after the meeting commenced.
Addressing delegates, Kpadeh said Liberia stands in solidarity with other IMO member countries in condemning acts of violence targeting commercial shipping. He stressed that attacks on merchant vessels represent a serious breach of international maritime norms and threaten the principle of free navigation on global waters.
He further noted that such actions undermine protections enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, an international framework that guarantees the safe passage of ships and the protection of maritime activities worldwide.
According to Kpadeh, ensuring the safety of seafarers and commercial vessels must remain a global priority, as the international economy depends significantly on uninterrupted maritime trade and secure shipping routes.
The incident occurs amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East linked to the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The conflict, which intensified in late February 2026, has heightened security concerns across key maritime corridors and disrupted shipping activities in the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters.
Liberia, which operates one of the world’s largest ship registries, has reiterated its call for greater international cooperation to safeguard commercial shipping and protect those working at sea.
Listen to the Liberian Representative to IMO Statement on the matter
