Eight major shipping associations have called on the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to oppose any compulsory tolls or charges on vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, warning that such measures could affect global trade and energy supply chains.
The joint letter was sent on Monday to UN Secretary-General António Guterres and IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez. It was signed by the Asian Shipowners Association (ASA), BIMCO, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), European Shipowners (ECSA), International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), INTERCARGO, INTERTANKO and the World Shipping Council (WSC).
The organisations said introducing mandatory transit fees or service charges for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be a major change from current international practice and could affect the legal framework governing navigation through international waterways.
“Introducing compulsory charges for transit, or service fees that are a toll in all but name, through the Strait of Hormuz would represent a significant departure from established international practice,” the groups said in the letter.
The appeal comes amid reports that Iran and Oman are moving towards an agreement to manage the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy shipments.
The shipping groups said seafarers have continued working in difficult conditions since the beginning of the conflict, with some injured and others losing their lives while operating at sea. They said the safety of seafarers and freedom of navigation must remain protected.
The associations warned that allowing transit charges in the Strait of Hormuz could create a precedent for similar measures in other international waterways. They said this could increase uncertainty for shipping companies and global businesses that depend on predictable maritime routes.
The groups also said additional costs on maritime transport would eventually affect supply chains, potentially contributing to higher energy prices, inflation and economic uncertainty.
“Any additional costs imposed on maritime transport inevitably flow through international supply chains,” the associations said, adding that the impact could affect people and businesses worldwide.
They urged that internationally recognised navigation rights should not be affected by political discussions over regional security and conflict resolution.
The organisations said they would continue working with the IMO and the United Nations to protect existing international rules governing navigation through strategic waterways, including those recognised under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has previously said that countries do not have the right to impose tolls, payments or charges on international straits, warning that such measures could create a harmful precedent for global shipping.
The possibility of a permanent toll system has raised concerns about the impact on energy markets, particularly in Asia, which imports a large share of Gulf energy exports.
Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore, said higher costs linked to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz could affect diesel prices, fertiliser costs and plastics supply. She added that while some oil shipments could potentially be redirected through pipelines, natural gas shipments remain more difficult to replace.
Shipping activity in the region has faced continued disruption during the conflict. The IMO has confirmed 64 incidents and 17 deaths in the area since the conflict began.
According to the IMO and UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk, at least 6,000 seafarers remained stranded in and around the Strait of Hormuz as of late July.
Reference: ics-shipping
