UK and Dutch bodies agree on new recommendations for warlike areas

The UK and Dutch bodies responsible for seafarer safety in warlike areas have issued new provisions for ships transiting the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Sea of Azov, and Black Sea. The UK Warlike Operations Area Committee (WOAC) has recommended that operators of vessels with connections to companies majority owned by Israeli nationals in specific areas should allow seafarers to choose not to proceed to those areas and make special payments to crew members remaining onboard. Additionally, the existing compensation levels for the death or detention of seafarers in the area should be doubled, and companies should underwrite any personal life assurance policies that may become invalidated due to their service in the warlike operations area. The recommendation applies from 1 December 2023 and will be reviewed by the WOAC by the end of January 2024 or if the risk changes.

Seafarers on Dutch-flagged ships have had their designated ‘warlike area allowance’ scheme extended again due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The scheme, originally agreed upon in March 2022, has been extended until 31 December 2023. The geographical description of the war supplement area covers the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea north of a particular boundary.

These measures have been put in place to ensure the safety and well-being of seafarers transiting through these high-risk areas and to provide additional support in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Source .