Panama City (EFE).- The Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Panamanian Arsenio Domínguez affirmed on Thursday that around 20,000 crew members and 1,500 ships are «trapped» in the Persian Gulf due to the crisis in the Middle East, which has placed the maritime industry in difficult circumstances.
“Right now, we have approximately 20,000 crewmen and around 1,500 ships trapped,» Arsenio Dominguez stated.
These “are innocent people who are doing their jobs every day for the benefit of other countries,» but «are trapped by geopolitical situations outside their control,» Domínguez added.
The maritime industry provides over 80% of the products consumed daily worldwide and is currently facing challenges, Domínguez said during the inaugural speech of the Maritime Convention of the Americas.
The convention brings together shipping companies and operators from 40 countries in Panama City.
The geopolitical crisis in the Middle East is affecting negotiations at the International Maritime Organization, a United Nations agency responsible for ensuring the safety and security of maritime transport and preventing pollution of the atmosphere and oceans by ships.
In light of these challenges, Domínguez affirmed that the IMO will learn from and improve its regulatory approach, adopting a pragmatic view to maintain the objectives of increasing safety, security, sustainability, and, above all, environmental conservation.
As of Wednesday, United States President Donald Trump said that Washington had held very good conversations and that reaching an agreement to end the war with Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz was possible. EFE
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