Intertanko chairman Paolo d'Amico issued a stark warning to the world on Thursday following the attacks on two tankers in the Middle East Gulf.
The Italian shipowner said in a statement: "Following two attacks on member vessels this morning, I am extremely worried about the safety of our crews going through the Strait of Hormuz.
"We need to remember that some 30% of the world's (seaborne) crude oil passes through the Straits.
"If the waters are becoming unsafe, the supply to the entire western world could be at risk."
Shipowners organisation Bimco urged nations to come together in cooperation after the latest incident.
Frontline and BSM ships were hit in apparent torpedo attacks off the coast of Iran east of Hormuz, causing the vessels to be abandoned.
Bimco wants countries to work together to defuse tension through diplomatic efforts.
“We strongly call for nations to do what they can to de-escalate tensions and ensure the safe passage of merchant shipping in the Strait of Hormuz,” said Angus Frew, Bimco secretary general and CEO.
“It is unacceptable that the lives of innocent seafarers are put at risk in these unprovoked attacks,” Frew added.
Bimco represents around 60% percent of the world’s merchant fleet measured by tonnage.
“The increase in attacks and the escalated threat to seafarers is an urgent concern to the industry," said Bimco head of maritime security Jakob Larsen.
"Following the two most recent attacks, and while we await the results of the investigations of the attacks, the tension in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf is now as high as it gets without being an actual armed conflict.”
Disruption of shipping through the strait will have a major impact on the oil trade and the shipping industry, Bimco said.
'Deeply worrying'
International Chamber of Shipping's(ICS) board has expressed concern over the attacks as well. Addressing the issue at the ICS Annual General Meeting in the Faroe Islands, the Board has expressed the international shipping industry’s alarm at recent incidents in the region affecting ships and their crews.
“This suspected attack is a deeply worrying and intolerable situation," secratary general Guy Platten said during its annual general meeting in the Faroe Islands.
"We await further clarification and information as to what has happened but we are relieved that there appears to have been no loss of life and that the crews are reportedly safe."
He noted that this is the second such incident in a month, the first being the attack of four tankers off Fujairah on 11 May.
“The Strait of Hormuz are crucial for the world economy, and any deliberate attempts to threaten traffic through them are to be condemned in the strongest terms,” he said.
“The situation continues to develop and we will scrutinize it closely, providing assistance to the industry to safeguard world trade and, most importantly, the lives of the men and women whose daily task it is to ensure its continued flow.”
