The secretary general of the International Maritime Organization (WATER), Arsenio Dominguezrecalled this Monday that any attempt to block navigation in the Strait of Hormuz goes against international lawin reference to the United States blockade implemented starting this Monday on ships originating from or destined for Iranian ports. The head of this organization, dependent on the United Nationshas assured that the current situation “it doesn’t make things easier” and has made a new appeal to the de-escalate to resume maritime traffic as soon as possible in a strategic enclave for international trade.
“According to international law, countries They have no right to block a strait which is used for international navigation,” Domínguez assured at a press conference at the organization’s headquarters in London. The secretary general has, however, avoided assessing the details of the operation launched by Washington since, he assures, he still does not have sufficient information. “As far as I understand, this now refers specifically to the access to Iranian ports and it is related to the corridor that Iran announced last week,” he added. “We need more information on the details to know how this blockage will impact shipping.”
Ship safety
Domínguez has assured that a greater blockade It won’t mean big changes for the safety of merchant ships and fences 20,000 sailors who remain trapped in the Gulf, since maritime traffic has been practically paralyzed since the conflict began, with barely 11 ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the last two days. “I don’t see a big change in the status quo. Threats of attack, of course, remain relevant, but these have been directed at any ship attempting to cross the strait. That is why the message has been very clear: until the situation calms down, no ship should transit the Strait of Hormuz.”
At the extraordinary meeting of the IMO council held last March, member countries agreed to seek plans for the safe evacuation of trapped vessels. The secretary general has indicated that this is one of the main tasks of the organization, as well as working together with Iran and with Oman to restore the Traffic Separation Schemes (TSS) without imposing tolls to vessels circulating through the strait. “In accordance with international maritime law and the law of the sea conventions, all countries have to respect the right to freedom of navigation in international straits,” he warned.
Joint mission
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has had the rejection from the international community and has forced countries like the United Kingdom o France to look for solutions to ensure safety in the enclave and to resume maritime traffic as soon as possible. The two countries plan to lead a new meeting this week with around thirty allies to draw up a viable plan, despite the fact that the tension in the area has prevented great progress for now.
“[Estos encuentros] continue to promote the commitment of countries to find solutions to the original causes [del conflicto] and address some of the issues that fall within the IMO’s remit,” he said. Dominguezpresent at the meeting held last week. “They allow us to continue collaborating in the search for solutions, since that is precisely what we need at this moment.”
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