The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization has strongly condemned the attack on the tanker MT Settebello near the Strait of Hormuz, after three seafarers were confirmed dead.

The Palau-flagged tanker, IMO number 9162916, was sailing off the coast of Oman when it was reportedly struck by a projectile. The incident caused a fire on board and resulted in the deaths of three crew members.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez expressed deep sadness over the fatalities and said that acts endangering seafarers and international shipping were unacceptable. He extended his thoughts to the families of those killed and to people awaiting information about other crew members.

Dominguez also referred to the conclusions reached by the IMO Council during an extraordinary session. The Council stressed that seafarers, civilian vessels and freedom of navigation must be protected at all times.

According to the Secretary-General, actions affecting international shipping must comply fully with international law and requirements concerning safety of life at sea. He added that safeguarding seafarers is a shared responsibility and must remain a priority.

The IMO said it is closely monitoring developments and called for a full and transparent investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The incident comes amid a wider series of attacks on commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The IMO said it had confirmed 46 attacks on international shipping in the area since 28 February 2026. Fourteen seafarers have been killed during that period, including the three fatalities reported aboard the Settebello.

The Strait of Hormuz situation has prompted renewed emphasis from the UN maritime agency on crew safety, the protection of civilian shipping and adherence to international law. The IMO’s statement did not provide further details about the condition of the vessel or the status of the remaining crew members.