29 May 2024 (Lloyd's List) - THE Asian Shipowners' Association has sounded the alarm on mounting security threats in the Red Sea while convening its latest annual meeting in Hong Kong, calling for urgent industry-wide efforts to address the crisis as tensions escalate and vessels increasingly come under attack.
"The surge of Houthi attacks off the African coasts presents a significant threat to maritime operations, endangering the lives of seafarers and the integrity of vessels," the association warned in a statement during the gathering.
Earlier this week, a Greece-owned dry bulker, understood to be the 82,265 dwt Laax (IMO: 9512355), was damaged in the latest attack in the Red Sea, while the Yemeni militia recently claimed it would target the entire fleet of any related ship that called at Israeli ports.
International Maritime Organization secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez, also invited to attend the AGM, condemned the assaults on merchant ships during a forum after the meeting.
"Seafarers are innocent, and shipping is innocent and we should not be targeted in this indiscriminate manner," he said.
Dominguez noted the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee last week adopted its first resolution against these attacks since the Houthis seized Galaxy Leader (IMO: 9237307) in November 2023. The committee also urged any party that may influence the Houthis to seek an end to the attacks.
"We'll continue to have those conversations with all the member states," he said.
His remarks came as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called for halting attacks on civilian vessels in the Red Sea to ensure navigation safety during a meeting with his Yemeni counterpart in Beijing on May 28.
Despite most shipping companies benefiting from the freight rate surge brought about by rerouting around Africa, ASA emphasized the importance of collaboration among regional stakeholders and international partners to address the crisis. It welcomed ongoing naval escort efforts to protect merchant ships in the crucial international waterway.
"Ensuring the safety and security of navigation in the Red Sea and surrounding areas is essential to protect the lives of our seafarers, our vessels, and to keep global trade going," it said.
Other seafarer-related issues were also highlighted, including urgent needs to upskill them amid the industry's digital and energy transition, and rising concerns over their unfair criminalization and prosecution.
"Seafarers are increasingly being detained in ports under suspicion of crimes, particularly when drugs are found on ships," ASA said. "The evidence suggests that in most cases, seafarers are quite unaware of the concealment of drugs or other illegal items on board their ships and have no involvement in the illegal operations."
ASA also mentioned the important implications of the Hong Kong Convention on safe and green ship recycling coming into force globally in 2025. It also "strongly hopes" the EU can align its ship recycling rules with the HKC to avoid incompatibility.
The meeting appointed Carmelita Hartoto, chairperson of the ASEAN Shipowners' Association, as the new ASA chairperson, taking over from Angad Banga, her counterpart at the Hong Kong Shipowners Association.
In addition, the Cook Islands Ship Owners Association was approved to become an ASA member, while Maritime Industry Australia Limited - one of the founding members of ASA since 1992 - departed the association.
"ASA thanked MIAL for their contributions and support all those years and hoped that MIAL would rejoin ASA in future," it said.
