A call for the protection of safe navigation and international maritime trade
The attack on a Turkish-owned crude oil tanker carrying 140,000 tones of crude oil, operated by Turkish crew, approximately 14 nautical miles from the Istanbul Strait constitutes a highly alarming development in terms of the safety and security of maritime trade.
Maritime transport is a fundamental pillar of global trade and energy supply security. Targeting civilian commercial vessels is an unacceptable act that threatens not only the country concerned but also the integrity of international maritime trade as a whole. Such attacks pose direct risks to the safety of life at sea, environmental security, and global economic stability.
As the Turkish Shipowners’ Association, we strongly reject any acts that violate the principle of safe and secure navigation at sea, and we emphasize the urgent need for all necessary diplomatic and legal measures to be undertaken in order to uphold international law and maritime security.
Ensuring that the seas remain a domain of peace, safety, and free trade is of vital importance for the sustainability of global prosperity. In this regard, we call upon the international community to act with due responsibility and sensitivity.
26.03.2026
