IMO urges protection of “strategic shipping lanes”
IMO urges protection of “strategic shipping lanes”
The International Maritime Organization said its governing body is supporting an initiative of IMO secretary-general Efthimios E. Mitropoulos to identify shipping lanes of strategic importance that may be vulnerable to terrorist attacks, and to work with coastal governments to ensure that they are kept open under all circumstances, allowing the uninterrupted flow of maritime traffic.
The council of the London-based organization met June 21-25 and authorized Mitropoulos to consult with the littoral states involved and other stakeholder states on the issue of ensuring security throughout strategic shipping lanes.
“The IMO secretariat has begun some research work to identify those shipping lanes which may be at risk of terrorist attacks with a view to working with others to act proactively in order to protect the interests of safety, security, the environment, seaborne trade and the world economy at large,” the IMO said.