Protecting Freedom of Navigation
WSC regards freedom of navigation as an essential, legally protected right for all merchant vessels operating globally. We strongly condemn attacks on shipping, especially recent ones in sensitive chokepoints like the Red Sea. We endorse multinational security initiatives that restore and preserve safe passage. We call for robust diplomatic cooperation to maintain and reinforce this foundational principle of maritime trade.
The Right of Freedom of Navigation
WSC affirms that the freedom of navigation is a fundamental right under international law and must be actively protected. Ongoing attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea represent an unacceptable threat to this principle, endangering seafarers and disrupting global trade.
With 80% of global goods transported by sea, threats to secure maritime routes have immediate and far-reaching impacts—raising costs, delaying shipments, and straining supply chains. In response, liner carriers have undertaken the complex task of reconfiguring global networks to ensure the continued flow of essential goods despite these hostile conditions.
The WSC emphasizes that protecting seafarers and vessels is paramount. Ocean carriers will continue to make informed operational decisions, but the international community must also act decisively to uphold the rule of law at sea and ensure safe passage through key maritime corridors.