The International Chamber of Shipping told the United Nations Security Council on 17 September 2026 that safeguarding maritime security, upholding freedom of navigation and preserving the established international legal framework for the world’s oceans remain vital to global commerce and security.
The briefing was delivered in New York by Thomas A. Kazakos, the ICS secretary general, after the association was invited to address an Arria-Formula meeting of the Security Council. Sources indicated the event on 18 September 2026 and said the industry body set out its priorities to the council.
Appeal to the international legal framework
Mr Kazakos stressed the importance of the rules-based order that governs the seas and urged continued respect for those norms as the primary means of ensuring predictable and lawful maritime activity. The intervention emphasised that established law underpins safe passage, dispute resolution and the rights and responsibilities of states and commercial operators alike.
Industry voice at an Arria-Formula meeting
The invitation to brief under the Arria-Formula arrangement placed the shipping industry’s perspective directly before council members, allowing the ICS to outline practical concerns without the formalities of a mandated Security Council meeting. The appearance recognised the sector’s role as a stakeholder in matters that affect international peace, security and the flow of goods.
Freedom of navigation featured prominently in the remarks, with the ICS signalling that unobstructed access to international sea routes is essential for trade, energy supplies and humanitarian shipments. The organisation framed freedom of navigation as a cornerstone of predictability for ship operators and for nations dependent on reliable maritime links.
Maritime security was also a central theme, with the ICS representative highlighting the connection between safe seas and wider security interests. The submission to the council linked the practical challenges faced by seafarers and shipowners to the need for cooperative measures that reduce risks to ships, crew and cargo.
The ICS address to the Security Council formed part of an ongoing dialogue between the maritime sector and international policymakers about how best to maintain an orderly maritime environment. Sources carried the report of the briefing on 18 September 2026, noting the date of Mr Kazakos’s remarks the previous day in New York.