Leading shipping associations have made a joint call for the international community to stop the escalation of tensions in the Middle East Gulf after a series of tanker seizures.
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) and the Asian Shipowners' Association (ASA) also urged nations to respect international law following the detention by Iran of Stena's MR Stena Impero last month.
They called for freedom of navigation to be recognised, as enshrined in Article 19 of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
"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 Guy Platten, ICS secretary general.
"Important route"
"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," added ECSA secretary general Martin Dorsman.
Iran seized Stena Impero in apparent retaliation for Gibraltar's detention of the VLCC Grace 1, which was carrying Iranian oil.
The Gulf nation has also detained two small vessels for alleged fuel smuggling in recent weeks.
“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," said Ang Chin Eng, ASA secretary general.
"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, and to push for a complete de-escalation of tensions in the region."
The associations want to see a diplomatic solution to the impasse.
