The Asian Shipowners’ Association (ASA) calls upon all States to uphold the principles of freedom of navigation and unimpeded transit passage in accordance with international law, in light of the recent submission of a joint letter co-signed by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and ASA to the Secretary Generals of the United Nations (UN) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

ASA firmly believes that the imposition by any State of tolls, charges, or fees on ships solely for their transit through international straits, including the Strait of Hormuz, would be contrary to both customary international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982 (UNCLOS).

ASA emphasizes the importance of preserving the long-standing principles of international maritime law governing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz. ASA is deeply concerned by measures that deviate from established international laws and principles since such actions risk setting precedents with far-reaching implications for other strategically significant maritime chokepoints worldwide.

ASA therefore calls upon all States to respect these fundamental principles in order to safeguard the free flow of global trade and preserve the rules-based international maritime order.