ITF condemns continuing attacks on civilian seafarers in Middle East, declared a Warlike Operations Area

Following a meeting of the Warlike Operations Area Committee of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) late last week, the ITF and the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) agreed to designate the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf as a Warlike Operations Area (WOA) due to the heightened threat to crews and vessels operating in the region.


The designation activates enhanced protections and compensation for seafarers serving on vessels covered by IBF agreements in the war zone.


ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton said the designation reflected the unacceptable reality that civilian seafarers are once again being exposed to.

“Once again, seafarers are being placed directly in harm’s way in a conflict not of their making,” said Cotton. “Too often in recent years we have seen civilian seafarers become the collateral damage of war – whether in the Black Sea, the Red Sea or now in the Strait of Hormuz. These are workers, often from the Global South, far from home and with no connection to the conflicts unfolding around them.


“Today’s designation ensures that seafarers on vessels covered by IBF agreements have critical protections if they operate in this dangerous region. The fact we have to take these measures at all is a damning indictment of the situation facing seafarers today. No worker should have to risk being killed or maimed simply for doing their job – particularly when that job is transporting the oil and goods that keep the world’s economies running.”

Under the terms agreed by the IBF parties, seafarers serving on vessels within or entering the designated WOA will be entitled to the following protections:

-       A bonus equal to 100% of basic wage, payable for a minimum of five days, and for each additional day a vessel remains in the area.

-       Doubled compensation for death and disability arising from incidents in the area.

-       The right for seafarers to refuse to sail into the area, with repatriation at the company’s cost and compensation equal to two months’ basic wage.

-       A recommendation for ship operators to implement enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3.

These provisions reflect the standard protections applied to seafarers transiting Warlike Operations Areas under IBF agreements. 

ITF says that every day since the US and Israel launched ‘Operation Epic Fury’ against Iran on 28 February, ITF Seafarers’ Support has received a high volume of enquiries from seafarers seeking advice and assistance. The most common concerns raised by seafarers include clarification of their rights and protections, specifically around requests for repatriation and questions about their right to refuse to sail into the area. 


The situation is compounded by the widespread closure of international airspace across much of the region, which is severely limiting the ability of seafarers to leave vessels and return home. With repatriation routes heavily restricted, many crews face the prospect of remaining on ships operating in an incredibly volatile environment, underscoring the urgent need for de-escalation, stability and the safe movement.


“There are already calls to simply reopen shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz under naval escort. But we must be clear: the safest way to protect seafarers is not to send them through a war zone in the first place,” said Cotton.

“Naval escorts cannot guarantee the safety of civilian crews. No escort can eradicate the risk of missiles or drones striking a merchant vessel and harming civilian seafarers. The priority must be de-escalation, diplomacy and an end to the conflict. Until then, civilian seafarers should not be placed in the line of fire.”


Around 1,000 ocean going vessels are stranded in the Gulf following the halt of vessel movements through the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting the scale of disruption and risk facing seafarers.


The ITF stressed that while the WOA designation provides important protections, the only real solution is de-escalation. The designation will remain under regular review by the Warlike Operations Area Committee (WOAC).