Thomas Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping, said:
“This announcement comes as a relief to the 20,000 sailors caught in the middle of this war. Their safe exit from the area must be a top priority but will take some time.
“With around 500 ships needing to pass through the strait to exit the region, this will require coordination. The IMO has a crucial role, working alongside industry and countries in the region, to ensure this is done safely and as quickly as possible.”
“The fundamental principle of freedom of navigation was sidelined during the war, and unfortunately many sailors were injured or lost their lives. While we now hope to move toward peace, we must see a lasting return of ships being able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz unhindered without paying tolls or any other clearance mechanism.”
Source: International Chamber of Shipping
