International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has urged States to uphold freedom of navigation and avoid imposing transit fees in key maritime chokepoints, warning of operational disruption across ports and terminals.
Addressing the UN Security Council, Dominguez highlighted the escalating situation in the Strait of Hormuz, where approximately 20,000 seafarers and nearly 2,000 vessels remain stranded, creating knock-on effects for global port operations, energy flows and cargo throughput.
He said: “The principle of freedom of navigation is not negotiable. Ships must be allowed to trade worldwide unhindered and in accordance with international law.”
Dominguez cautioned that any restrictions, including tolls or discriminatory measures, would undermine established maritime frameworks and destabilise global shipping networks. For ports, prolonged disruption risks congestion, delayed vessel calls and reduced reliability across supply chains.
The IMO confirmed it is developing an evacuation framework for affected vessels and crews, utilising the long-established traffic separation scheme in the Strait of Hormuz.
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This corridor, jointly operated by Iran and Oman under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), remains central to ensuring navigational safety.
Dominguez called on States to support evacuation efforts and, when conditions permit, assist in clearing hazards such as mines to restore safe passage.
He also stressed the importance of maintaining insurance access and operational assurances to enable ports and terminals to resume normal activity.
He added: “Any deviation from these well-established and recognised principles would set a negative precedent and severely undermine the integrity and stability of shipping operations worldwide.”
For more information:
International Maritime Organization – https://www.imo.org/en
