Merchant ships and seafarers are increasingly in peril at sea as attacks escalate in the Middle East and the United Nations must do more to protect supply chains, the industry said in a letter released on April 19.
Tensions have soared across the Middle East since the start of Israel's campaign in Gaza in October, with Israel or its ally the U.S. clashing repeatedly with Iranian-aligned groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
In a letter sent on April 18 to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the world's leading shipping industry associations said Iran's seizure on April 13 of the MSC Aries container ship 50 nautical miles off the United Arab Emirates coast "once again highlighted the intolerable situation where shipping has become a target."
"Innocent seafarers have been killed, seafarers are being held hostage," the letter said.
"The world would be outraged if four airliners were seized and held hostage with innocent souls onboard. Regrettably, there does not seem to be the same response or concern (for ships an their crew members)."
An Indian woman who was a mariner on the MSC Aries returned to the country, India's foreign ministry said on April 18, adding it was in touch with the other 16 Indian crew members still being held aboard the vessel.
The industry letter said "seafarers and the maritime sector are neutral and must not be politicized."
"Given the continually evolving and severe threat profile within the area, we call on you for enhanced co-ordinated military presence, missions and patrols in the region, to protect our seafarers against any further possible aggression," the letter added.
U.N. officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis have also affected the global maritime transport chain.
Iran has also seized other vessels in international waters in recent years, heightening risks for merchant shipping in the area.
Recommended Reading
Enterprise Targets FID for SPOT Project by End of 2024
2024-05-01 - Enterprise Products Partners’ co-CEO disputed capex figures reported in the media regarding its Sea Port Oil Export Terminal.
Enterprise Gains Deepwater Port License for SPOT Offshore Texas
2024-04-09 - Enterprise Products Partners’ Sea Port Oil Terminal is located approximately 30 nautical miles off Brazoria County, Texas, in 115 ft of water and is capable of loading 2 MMbbl/d of crude oil.
Enbridge Fortifies Dominant Role in Corpus Christi Crude Transport
2024-03-20 - Colin Gruending, Enbridge executive vice president and president for liquids pipelines told Hart Energy the company’s holdings in South Texas are akin to a “catcher’s mitt” for Permian and Haynesville production.
Waha NatGas Prices Go Negative
2024-03-14 - An Enterprise Partners executive said conditions make for a strong LNG export market at an industry lunch on March 14.
Early Startup of Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Surprises Analysts
2024-04-04 - Analysts had expected the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion to commence operations in June but the company said the system will begin shipping crude on May 1.