Eight major shipping associations have urged the United Nations to oppose any tolls or compulsory service fees for vessels using the Strait of Hormuz, warning that charges would raise costs for global trade and undermine internationally recognised transit rights. The letter was sent to UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday, August 3, and made public on Wednesday, August 5.
The warning comes as Iran and Oman discuss an arrangement to reopen the critical waterway. Reports describe a possible temporary system using separate inbound and outbound routes, but negotiations were still incomplete as of August 5 and the terms of any permanent arrangement had not been settled.
At a glance:
- Eight shipping organisations signed the letter, including the International Chamber of Shipping, BIMCO and the World Shipping Council.
- The IMO Council said on July 13 that passage through the Strait of Hormuz should remain free of tolls and charges.
- A reported temporary Iran-Oman arrangement would not impose tolls or fees during its initial 60-day period.
- About 6,000 seafarers remained affected in the region, according to the IMO.
Why the shipping industry is objecting
The signatories said compulsory transit charges, including service fees that function as tolls, would depart from established international practice. They warned that accepting such a system could create a precedent for charging ships in other straits used for international navigation.
Related coverage: Iran-Oman Talks Show Progress on Strait of Hormuz Shipping.
The organisations said the immediate effect would be higher shipping expenses and greater uncertainty, with potential consequences for energy prices, inflation and livelihoods. Deborah Elms of the Hinrich Foundation told Al Jazeera that disruption would be felt particularly in Asia through higher diesel, fertiliser and plastics costs.
What is known about the proposed reopening
The Associated Press reported on August 4 that Iran and Oman had made progress toward a possible reopening arrangement. Regional officials described routes entering the Persian Gulf through Iranian-controlled waters and exiting through an Omani route, with proposed fees for security and environmental services. A US official disputed that charges would apply to temporary routes.
Axios reported that the arrangement under discussion would last 60 days, could be extended and would impose no tolls or fees during that period. It also described plans to clear naval mines from a median lane within 30 days, after which Iran and Oman would negotiate a longer-term framework.
More context: Iran and Oman Exchange Proposals on Managing the Strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The international legal and safety position
The IMO Council said on July 13 that transit passage through the strait must remain non-discriminatory and unimpeded, and that passage should be free of tolls and charges under international law. The council also called for any regional arrangement to respect the traffic separation scheme adopted by the IMO in 1968.
The IMO has separately reported that its evacuation framework moved 136 vessels and 2,900 seafarers through alternative routes before being paused because safe passage could no longer be assured. Approximately 6,000 seafarers remained trapped in the region, according to the IMO’s July 8 update.
Also read: Iran Attacks Tankers in Hormuz Strait as US War Efforts Stall.
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