THE International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and theAsian Shipowners' Association (ASA) urged an immediate stop to escalation and respect for international law following the Iranian seizure of the 49,683-dwt British flagged tanker Stena Impero in the Strait of Hormuz last month.
All countries should ensure the safe passage of merchant vessels, by respecting the Freedom of Navigation enshrined in Article 87(1)a and the Right of Innocent Passage defined in Article 19 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), they said in a joint statement.
"Freedom of Navigation is vital for global trade and is a fundamental principle of international maritime law. Seafarers and ships must be allowed to operate in safety, and it is simply not acceptable for them to be used as bargaining counters in any way," said ICS secretary general Guy Platten.
Said ECSA secretary general Martin Dorsman: "Merchant vessels engaged in international trade should not be subject to unlawful seizures or armed attacks. The Strait of Hormuz is an important route for European merchant vessels and we strongly urge EU member states to work with Iranian authorities to de-escalate the situation in order to safeguard this vital passageway."
Said ASA secretary general Ang Chin Eng: "The Strait of Hormuz is the only route in and out of the Gulf, and one of the critical shipping lanes for Asian countries that also connects Europe and Asia. We therefore urge all countries to completely secure the safe passage by respecting the freedom of navigation and the right of innocent passage as enshrined in the UNCLOS."