Shipping Industry Leaders Condemn Recent Attacks on Seafarers

There is grave concern about the recent escalation of the conflict which puts the lives of our seafarers at risk, compromises the safety of international shipping and restricts freedom of navigation.

Commercial ships and their crews are civilian in nature and form the backbone of global trade. The seafarers on board often have no say regarding which cargoes are transported or the routes taken.

Seafarers should never be collateral damage, victims or instruments of political or military pressure. Attacks on merchant ships constitute a direct challenge to the fundamental principle of freedom of navigation which is essential to the global economy and enshrined in international law. Acts of war, including enforcement of blockades, should always be done in accordance with the Law of Armed Conflict. This also includes using only the force necessary and taking all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize