The regulatory framework underpinning global maritime trade is facing unprecedented challenges as conflicts, sanctions, and a growing shadow fleet erode established norms, shipping authorities from leading maritime nations warn. In a joint statement released this week, the Consultative Shipping Group (CSG)—a coalition representing over 20% of global trade by tonnage—highlighted the deteriorating conditions threatening the foundational principles of free navigation and the neutrality of commercial vessels.
The CSG, which includes members such as Greece, Singapore, Denmark, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and South Korea, emphasized that recent disruptions are not isolated incidents but indicative of a broader structural shift in global shipping. Factors such as the ongoing contest over control of the Strait of Hormuz, the lingering impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the rise of a clandestine fleet operating beyond Western legal oversight all contribute to an increasingly volatile maritime environment.
Brian Wesslie, director-general of the Danish Maritime Authority and chair of the CSG, noted the weakening adherence to regulations established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations body responsible for coordinating international shipping standards. “For decades, we have built global trade on the assumption that ships can move freely across borders. That assumption is now under pressure,” Wesslie said.
More than 80% of world trade by volume depends on vessels operating within the IMO’s regulatory framework, making these recent trends especially concerning. The frequency of attacks on civilian maritime assets has risen significantly this year, involving countries such as Russia, Ukraine, the United States, and Iran. These hostilities have underscored the vulnerability of key maritime chokepoints. Iran’s attempts to solidify a proxy presence in the Strait of Hormuz represent a direct challenge to established shipping norms.
Compounding the security risks, international sanctions imposed on Russia and Iran have spawned an expansive “shadow fleet” of more than 1,500 oil tankers, roughly a fifth of the global tanker fleet, according to data from TankerTrackers.com. These vessels typically operate without insurance, posing heightened environmental and financial risks. A recent incident involving the Caroline Bezengi—an uninspected tanker carrying approximately 800,000 barrels of Russian crude—illustrated these dangers when it struck a limpet mine off the coast of Oman. The lack of indemnity insurance potentially exposes the Omani government to substantial clean-up and compensation costs.
The CSG’s statement marks the first public intervention by the coalition since its establishment over six decades ago and signals mounting alarm among seafaring nations about the fracturing of the system that has historically ensured safe, neutral, and efficient global maritime commerce. Without urgent coordinated action, experts warn the disruption could ripple through supply chains worldwide, jeopardizing the stability of the global economy.