The International Maritime Organization has adopted a Singapore-led resolution on the protection of vital shipping lanes at the 137th Session of the IMO Council.
Co-sponsored by 30 member states including Indonesia and Malaysia, the resolution reaffirms the importance of upholding and respecting navigational rights and freedoms for commercial ships transiting through vital shipping lanes, including straits used for international navigation, in accordance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The resolution reaffirms the importance of abiding by IMO regulations and standards and highlights the organisation’s central role in promoting a stable, predictable and rules-based maritime order.
It underscores the importance of international cooperation, dialogue and collective responsibility in keeping vital sea lanes open, secure and accessible.
The resolution also draws attention to the safety, health and well-being of seafarers, recognising their indispensable role in sustaining global supply chains.
The adoption reflects Singapore’s longstanding commitment to upholding international law and safeguarding an open and stable maritime environment, consistent with its position as an open and trade-dependent economy for which uninterrupted global trade, resilient supply chains and food and energy security are fundamental national interests.
