IMO backs Singapore-led push to keep shipping lanes open

It adopted a resolution to open navigation routes amidst push for stronger maritime cooperation.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a Singapore-led resolution to support open and safe shipping lanes that carry more than 80% of global trade by volume.

The resolution was adopted at the 137th Session of the IMO Council and was supported by 30 member states, including Indonesia and Malaysia.

It reaffirms the importance of keeping key shipping routes, including international straits, open for commercial ships whilst calling for countries to respect ships’ rights to navigate these routes under international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The IMO said disruptions to major shipping routes can affect global supply chains by increasing freight costs, causing longer port waiting times, and creating additional risks for seafarers.

The resolution also highlights the IMO’s role in setting international shipping rules and standards.

It states that any measures affecting shipping traffic should follow IMO regulations, including safety requirements under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).

Member states are encouraged to work together through the IMO to improve maritime safety, strengthen information sharing, and address challenges affecting global shipping.

The resolution also highlights the need to protect the safety, health and well-being of seafarers, who support the movement of goods around the world.

Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said the resolution reflects Singapore’s support for a stable and rules-based maritime environment to support global trade, supply chain resilience, and food and energy security.

The IMO document cited the Straits of Malacca and Singapore as an example of cooperation between countries and maritime stakeholders.

The Co-operative Mechanism on Safety of Navigation and Environmental Protection in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, established in 2007 under the IMO’s Protection of Vital Shipping Lanes initiative, supports projects related to navigation safety and environmental protection in the waterway.

The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are among the world’s busiest shipping routes, connecting major trading markets in Asia and beyond.