Iraq Participates in Urgent Briefing Session for IMO Member States in London
The Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London, Maritime Attaché Captain Mazen Al-Kaabi, and the First Secretary Alyaa Alsayegh, participated in an urgent briefing session delivered by the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization, Mr Arsenio Dominguez, concerning the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.
During the briefing, the Secretary-General presented the latest information regarding the movement of vessels operating in proximity to the area, as well as the challenges facing the safety of maritime navigation under the current circumstances. He also called upon Member States of the Organization to provide all possible forms of assistance to vessels located near their coasts, particularly with regard to supplying food and fuel, and ensuring that seafarers have access to communication with their families to reassure them, in light of the communications disruptions in the region resulting from ongoing military activities.
The Maritime Attaché referred to the incident that occurred in Iraqi territorial waters, noting that the competent authorities at the Iraqi ports and the Coast Guard immediately mobilised to rescue the seafarers aboard the two tankers that had caught fire. He added that the relevant authorities are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, and that the causes have not yet been determined.
The Secretary-General expressed his thanks and appreciation to Iraq for the efforts undertaken by the competent authorities in rescuing the seafarers and providing them with medical care.
The Secretary-General responded to a request from the Arab Group in the Council of the Organization to convene another emergency session next Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the repercussions of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and its implications for the safety of international maritime navigation.