In a joint open letter sent to the United Nations Secretary General António Guterres, and International Maritime Organization Secretary General Arsenio Dominguez, eight maritime associations have strongly reiterated their opposition to potential compulsory tolls or charges being introduced in the Strait of Hormuz.
The letter comes amid reports that current negotiations between Iran and Oran include some form of Iranian control over vessel movements. “As discussions regarding regional security and conflict resolution take place, we must ensure that internationally recognised rights of navigation are not compromised or used as part of broader political negotiations,” the letter said.
“Introducing compulsory charges for transit, or service fees that are a toll in all but name, through the Strait of Hormuz would represent a significant departure from established international practice,” jointly stated ASA, BIMCO, CLIA, European Shipowners | ECSA, INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO, ICS, and WSC.
“Beyond the immediate financial implications for global trade, it would establish a precedent that could undermine the internationally recognised legal framework governing straits used for international navigation and transit passage.
“Once such a precedent is established, it becomes increasingly difficult to resist similar measures elsewhere, creating uncertainty for international shipping and global commerce. Any additional costs imposed on maritime transport inevitably flow through international supply chains. These consequences extend beyond shipping costs, contributing to higher energy prices, higher inflation, and higher economic uncertainty.
“As the International Maritime Organization has highlighted repeatedly, since the beginning of the conflict seafarers have been operating in an environment of heightened uncertainty, with some sustaining injuries and tragically losing their lives while carrying out their work at sea. The safety of seafarers who make global trade possible should be non-negotiable. So too must be freedom of navigation,” the letter stressed.
(Dreamstime image of Strait of Hormuz)