August 6, 2026 | 06:47 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Eight major international shipping associations are urging the United Nations to reject the imposition of mandatory fees or service charges on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
In a joint open letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez, the group warned that such policies would disrupt freedom of navigation and harm the global economy, according to ANTARA.
The letter was sent on Monday, August 3, and published by the International Chamber of Shipping on Wednesday. "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 letter stated.
The associations warned that implementing such a policy could set a precedent for similar measures on other international shipping routes and undermine the international legal framework governing transit passage rights.
They also assessed that additional sea freight costs will impact the global supply chain, triggering a rise in shipping costs and energy prices, intensifying inflationary pressures, and increasing economic uncertainty.
The parties who signed the letter include the Asian Shipowners' Association, Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), Cruise Lines International Association, European Shipowners, International Chamber of Shipping, International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners (INTERCARGO), International Association of Independent Tanker Owners (INTERTANKO), and the World Shipping Council.
The group also emphasized that the safety of seafarers and freedom of navigation must not be compromised during negotiations regarding regional security or conflict resolution.
The letter emerged after Iran and Oman reached a preliminary understanding on Wednesday regarding almost all issues related to future arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi stated that the final agreement is "nearing completion."
According to Gharibabadi, the understanding includes designating entry and exit routes for maritime traffic, as reported by the Iranian state news agency, IRNA. However, he emphasized that the understanding "does not mean the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz." He said the understanding represents a "new model that differs from the practices of the past 60 years."
In July, the IMO Council stated that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz must remain free of tolls or other levies, in accordance with international law.
The IMO Council also affirmed that any arrangements agreed upon by coastal states in the region must ensure the smooth flow of traffic, as well as unobstructed, non-discriminatory transit access for all vessels through internationally recognized traffic separation schemes.
Strait of Hormuz is a strategic shipping lane connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and global markets. Therefore, any disruption to commercial traffic in the region could pose a significant risk to energy supplies and international trade.
Read: Iran Denies US Talks, Says Working with Oman on Hormuz Strait
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