“Our foremost concern is for the wellbeing of the seafarers and civilians affected. We were deeply concerned to learn about the attacks on seafarers and the tragic loss of life. Our thoughts are with the families of those affected.

“All parties must take all necessary steps to safeguard the safety of seafarers who are simply going about their job and have found themselves, through no fault of their own, in a highly volatile situation.

“This is a fast moving and unpredictable situation. It is crucial the entire industry only relies on verified information from trusted sources.

“We strongly urge all ships operating in the region to conduct thorough risk assessments and to maintain vigilance in line with the latest BMP (Best Management Practices) Maritime Security guidelines. Ship operators should continue to monitor and act upon updates issued by official state channels.”