International Bargaining Forum Urges Vessels to Avoid Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) is a group consisting of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and international maritime employers, including the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) members IMEC, IMMAJ, and KSA. The decision to avoid passage through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden was made following a missile attack by the Houthis on the True Confidence vessel, resulting in the death of three seafarers. The IBF is urging charterers, operators, and shipowners to divert vessels away from the area to protect the lives of seafarers.

The IBF has expanded the Warlike Operations Area to cover the Southern Section of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, including the Bab El Mandeb Strait and the Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC). The organization is calling on employers and union affiliates to lobby their governments to intervene and ensure the safety of seafarers in the region. The primary concern of the IBF is the safety of seafarers, prompting the decision to designate the area as high risk and advise against passage through it.

The IBF’s decision to extend the Warlike Operations Area comes in response to the increased threat of Houthi missile attacks on ships in the region. By urging vessels to avoid the designated area, the IBF aims to protect seafarers from further attacks and ensure their safety while transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The organization’s focus on the safety of seafarers underscores the importance of taking proactive measures to mitigate risks in high-risk areas.

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