IMO Council reaffirms commitment to protecting vital shipping lanes

The Council of the IMO concluded its 137th session last week (6 - 10 July) by reaffirming the importance of preserving navigational rights and freedoms in accordance with international law. 

In a resolution adopted during the session, the Council stressed that the right of transit passage through straits used for international navigation should not be threatened, impeded, denied, hampered, impaired or suspended. 

In addition, the Council reiterated that any measures taken by coastal States to regulate traffic in vital shipping lanes should be done with accordance with IMO regulations under the International Convention on the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). 

With regards to the ongoing challenges facing international shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the Council condemned the attacks on civilian commercial ships and called for the de-escalation of tensions in the Middle East region. 

The Council stressed that any arrangement between the littoral States of the region shall guarantee the non-discriminatory and unimpeded right of transit passage of all ships, through the internationally recognised traffic separation scheme adopted by IMO in 1968. 

The Council reaffirmed that passage through the Strait should remain free of any tolls and charges, in accordance with international law, including the IMO Convention. 

It requested the Secretary-General to explore options that advance safe maritime traffic and to work with littoral States, other Member States and the industry to ensure a coordinated and sustainable return to unhindered navigation through the Strait. 

Separately, the Council noted the information shared by Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore on their experience in co-managing the Straits of Malacca and Singapore through a "Cooperative Mechanism" that brings governments and industry together to share the burden. 

The Council invited interested Member States and other stakeholders to consider making financial or in-kind contributions to the mechanism's two funds - the Aids to Navigation Fund and the IMO Straits of Malacca and Singapore Trust Fund to support the Co-operative Mechanism.