IMO urges states to reject Hormuz transit toll

The International Maritime Organization’s Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez has called on members to reject any tolls or fees imposed for passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

IMAGE: Flags of member states displayed on the International Maritime Organization's building in London. Getty Images

Earlier this month, Iran’s parliament approved a plan to collect tolls from shipowners for vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

Addressing the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting on protection of waterways used for international navigation, Dominguez emphasised on importance to uphold the principle of freedom of navigation.

“Ships must be allowed to trade worldwide unhindered and in accordance with international law,” he said.

Before the onset of the Middle East war on 28 February, about 20% of the global seaborne crude oil transited the Strait daily.

Vessel traffic has reduced dramatically since then, with merchant ships now operating under dual control—US naval monitoring and Iranian directives—including a reported transit fee for each voyage.

“The geopolitical conflict around the Strait of Hormuz is having a very negative effect on seafarers and shipping, and on the global population and economy,” Dominguez said.

About 20,000 seafarers and nearly 2,000 vessels are currently stuck in the Persian Gulf, according to the IMO.

“There is no legal basis for any country to introduce payments or impose tolls, fees or any discriminatory conditions on international straits,” the IMO Secretary-General added.

The IMO has urged members to support its plan to facilitate the evacuation of stranded seafarers in the Persian Gulf region and “assist with the clearance of any hazards to the commercial ships navigating in the Strait of Hormuz, including mines.”

By Aparupa Mazumder

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