International Chamber of Shipping urges protection for seafarers amid geopolitical tensions
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has called on the global community to ensure that seafarers are not caught in geopolitical conflicts or used as leverage in disputes over international waterways. Speaking at the Xinde Marine Forum in Hamburg, ICS secretary-general Thomas Kazakos emphasized that seafarers are workers, not combatants, who play a crucial role in transporting essential goods, energy, and food worldwide. The ICS is particularly concerned about the risks faced by crews in strategic regions such as the Strait of Hormuz, where conflict has led to injuries and fatalities among seafarers.
The ICS actively campaigns against proposals to impose tolls or compulsory service charges on vessels passing through key international waterways, warning that such measures could undermine legal frameworks, increase shipping costs, and disrupt supply chains. The organisation coordinated a joint open letter to UN and IMO secretaries-general opposing these charges, advocating for the free and safe passage of merchant vessels as a principle essential to global trade.
Alongside these advocacy efforts, the ICS continues work on maritime safety, technological innovation, and environmental initiatives. These include participating in the International Atomic Energy Agency's ATLAS project to evaluate nuclear-powered merchant vessels and updating safety guides for shipmasters. The ICS also supports digitalisation in the maritime sector through platforms like ISF Verify, aimed at streamlining seafarer certification verification.
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