LONDON (Reuters) – Merchant ships and seafarers are increasingly in danger 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 Friday.
Tensions in the Middle East have soared since the start of Israel’s campaign in Gaza in October, with Israel or its ally the United States repeatedly clashing with Iranian-linked groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
In a letter sent Thursday to U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the world’s major shipping associations said the April 13 Iranian seizure of the MSC Aries container ship 50 nautical miles off the coast of the United Arab Emirates “renewed the unbearable situation in which 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 planes were seized and held hostage with innocent souls on board. Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be the same reaction or concern (for ships and their crews).”
An Indian woman who was a sailor on the MSC Aries returned to the country, India’s foreign ministry said on Thursday, adding that it was in contact with the other 16 Indian crew members still held on board the ship.
The industry letter stated that “seafarers and the maritime sector are neutral and should not be politicized.”
“Given the continuously evolving and serious threat profile in the area, we call on you for an enhanced coordinated military presence, missions and patrols in the region, to protect our seafarers from any further potential aggression,” the letter said.
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U.N. officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Recent attacks on merchant shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by Iran-aligned Yemeni Houthis have also affected the global maritime transport chain.
Iran has also seized other ships in international waters in recent years, increasing risks to merchant shipping in the area.
