The
closure of the key waterway to all but a trickle of traffic since February 28, has
left around 1,000 ships and 20,000 crew stranded in the Arabian Gulf.
“This announcement comes as a relief to the 20,000 seafarers
who have been caught in the middle of this war. Their safe departure from the
region must be a top priority but will take time,” said ICS Secretary General
Thomas Kazakos.
The ICS is looking to the IMO to help facilitate this
process. “With around 500 ships needing to pass through the Strait to exit the
area this will require coordination. The International Maritime
Organization has a crucial role, working alongside industry and states in the
region, to ensure this is done as safely and as quickly as possible,” Kazakos
said.
In a separate statement IMO Secretary-General Arsenio
Dominguez, said, “The agreement also allows IMO to advance its plan to evacuate
the thousands of seafarers stranded in the area. The Organization is working in
close collaboration with Member States and partners to implement this plan
safely and effectively. However, its implementation will require time to ensure
that all necessary safety and security guarantees are in place.”
Details of the re-opening of the Strait and when it will
happen remain unclear although it is expected after the signing of the peace
deal between US and Iran on 19 June.
Both ICS and IMO stressed the need for a return to freedom
of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and paid tribute to innocent seafarers
who lost their lives in the conflict.
“This signals a crucial return to peace, dialogue,
multilateralism and diplomacy, and in particular, an important step toward
restoring safety in this vital maritime corridor for seafarers and ships, as
well as safeguarding the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation,” IMO
said.
Kazakos from ICS stated, “The fundamental principle of
freedom of navigation has been sidelined during the war, and many seafarers
have regrettably been injured or lost their lives. As we now hopefully move
towards peace, we must see a permanent return to vessels being able to pass
through the Strait of Hormuz unimpeded without paying a toll or other clearance
mechanism.”
IMO Secretary-General Dominguez has repeatedly highlighted
the plight of seafarers caught in the conflict and the unacceptable targeting
of commercial shipping. The IMO said the Secretary-General expressed his
deepest sympathies for all victims of the conflict, and paid particular tribute
to the innocent seafarers affected and to their families.
Courtesy: Seatrade Maritime News
