Nautilus International has welcomed a decision by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) to designate the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters as a High-Risk Area under the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), citing escalating military tensions and growing risks to civilian seafarers.
The designation follows a sharp deterioration in the security situation in the region, including confirmed attacks on commercial vessels and increasing instability affecting international shipping routes. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has urged vessels to exercise maximum caution and to avoid the area where possible.
Nautilus said the move was a necessary and timely step to strengthen protections for seafarers operating in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime corridors. General secretary Mark Dickinson said: “Seafarers are civilian workers and must never be placed in harm’s way because of geopolitical conflict. This designation sends a clear signal that safety is a priority.”
The High-Risk Area designation activates enhanced protections for IBF‑covered seafarers, placing clear obligations on shipowners and operators to carry out enhanced risk assessments, provide timely and accurate security information, and ensure that all contractual, insurance, and safety protections are fully applied.
Importantly, the designation also confirms that seafarers have the right to refuse to sail into the High-Risk Area without penalty, under existing IBF conditions agreed through the Warlike Operations Area Committee.
Nautilus emphasised that meaningful consultation with crews and their representatives must be central to any voyage planning involving the region.
The ITF and JNG have confirmed that the situation remains under continuous review, with further discussions underway on whether conditions may warrant an upgrade of the area to a Warlike Operations Area, which would trigger additional protections for seafarers.
Nautilus said it would continue working closely through the ITF and the IBF to monitor developments and ensure that members’ safety and rights are fully protected.
Members trading in, or being instructed to trade in, the Strait of Hormuz or surrounding waters are encouraged to seek advice and support from their union.
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