The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adopted a Singapore-led resolution on the protection of vital shipping lanes at the 137^th Session of the IMO Council.

2.       Co-sponsored by 30 Member States, including Indonesia and Malaysia, the resolution reaffirms the importance of upholding and respecting navigational rights and freedoms for commercial ships when transiting through vital shipping lanes, including straits used for international navigation, in accordance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). It also reaffirms the importance of abiding by the regulations and standards adopted by the IMO.

3.       The resolution also highlights the important role of the IMO in promoting a stable, predictable, and rules-based maritime order. It underscores the importance of international cooperation, dialogue, and collective responsibility in keeping vital sea lanes open, secure, and accessible.

4.       The resolution further highlights the importance of safeguarding the safety, health, and well-being of seafarers who play an indispensable role in global supply chains.

5.       As an open and trade-dependent economy, Singapore supports a stable, rules-based international order to ensure uninterrupted global trade, resilient supply chains, and food and energy security. The resolution reflects Singapore’s longstanding commitment to upholding international law, and to safeguarding an open, stable and predictable maritime environment.