IMO extraordinary council meeting on Middle East situation

An extraordinary council meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been called to discuss the situation in the Middle East at the request of several member states.

The meeting will take place the IMO’s headquarters in London on 18 and 19 March and be chaired by Victor Jiménez of Spain.

The Extraordinary Session of the IMO Council is to address the impacts on shipping and seafarers of the situation in the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman and the Gulf region, particularly in and around the Strait of Hormuz.

While the Strait of Hormuz is legally still open Iran has effectively closed it to nearly all international shipping attacking vessels in and around the Strait and the wider region.

On 11 March the Thai-flagged bulker Mayuree Naree was attacked while trying to transit the Strait and three of crew are missing while the other 20 were able to evacuate and were rescued by the Royal Omani Navy.

IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez held briefings this week with industry organisations on 11 March) and Member States on 12 March to share information and discuss recent developments.

Dominguez has condemned attacks on shipping in the region. “As I have said on numerous occasions, any attack on innocent seafarers or civilian shipping is unacceptable,” he said at the opening of sub-committee meeting earlier in the week.

“All parties without exception, and I repeat, without exception, must respect the freedom of navigation, which a fundamental principle of international maritime law.”

Source: Sea Trade Maritime

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