Skip to main content
A Singapore Government Agency Website How to identify
Official website links end with .gov.sg
Secure websites use HTTPS
Look for a lock () or https:// as an added precaution. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Beware of fraudulent posts/messages making false claims about Public Transport Vouchers.

Government officials will never ask you to transfer money or disclose bank log-in details over a phone call. Call the 24/7 ScamShield Helpline at 1799 if you are unsure if something is a scam.

Ministry of Transport
In Parliament

Diplomatic Representations, IMO Legal Recourse and Safeguarding Measures for Singapore-Flagged Ships, Cargo and Seafarers

4 November 2026

Sectors

Maritime

Written Reply to Parliamentary Question

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Transport following the recent attacks on Singapore-registered vessels in the Strait of Hormuz

a.          what diplomatic representations have been made to Iran;

b.          what international legal recourse is being pursued through bodies like the International Maritime Organisation to establish accountability; and

c.           what measures are being taken with international partners to safeguard Singapore-flagged ships, cargo and seafarers.

Reply by Minister for Transport Jeffrey Siow

1.          Since the start of the conflict, the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), as a Flag State, has worked closely with all affected shipowners and operators, as well as coastal States and partners, to safeguard the safety of Singapore-registered vessels and their crew. This includes issuing a series of security advisories, actively monitoring the status of our vessels and crew in the region, and engaging regional authorities, partners as well as management companies of affected vessels to facilitate information-sharing and operational coordination.

2.          Following recent attacks on Singapore-registered vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, MPA has remained in close contact with the vessels’ management companies and the relevant authorities to render the necessary support. Singapore has consistently emphasised the importance of the right of transit passage in the Strait of Hormuz, which is a Strait Used for International Navigation, and consistently urged all parties to uphold the right of transit passage in accordance with international law as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also conveyed our serious concerns to Iran through diplomatic channels, and called for the cessation of all actions that threaten commercial shipping and respect for the right of transit passage through the Strait of Hormuz in accordance with UNCLOS and customary international law. Iran has acknowledged Singapore’s concerns.

3.          Singapore continues to work with the international community to call for the upholding of the right of transit passage through our support for relevant resolutions and multilateral initiatives at the United Nations and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). For example, at its 137th session in July 2026, the IMO Council adopted a Singapore-led resolution on the protection of vital shipping lanes.