Seafarers covered by the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) agreements have been granted the right to refuse voyages through a designated high-risk area in the Gulf region, amid heightened security threats to commercial shipping.
According to industry and union sources, the arrangement allows crew members to decline passage through the risk zone. Where refusal is exercised, the framework provides for repatriation at the employer’s expense and compensation, with terms designed to protect seafarers who do not wish to operate in the area.
The agreement also outlines enhanced financial protections for those who continue to sail in the region, including increased benefits and stronger compensation provisions in the event of serious incidents.
The move comes as maritime operators and insurers reassess risk levels for Gulf transits and as authorities issue repeated warnings to vessels operating in and around key choke points.
