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IBF Declares 'High Risk Area' In The Gulf

7 octubre 2008

Joint press release issued from an emergency meeting of the IBF (International Bargaining Forum) called at the ITF's request in Singapore today, where agreement was reached to significantly increase the warlike operations area in the Gulf of Aden. Effective immediately seafarers in the extended area* will now receive a doubling of wages and compensation. These conditions also apply to crews on ships covered by ITF agreements but whose owners are outside the IBF.

*The extended area is contained within these coordinates:
12 degrees 13 minutes North 15 degrees 22 minutes North
43 degrees 39 minutes East 53 degrees 10 minutes East
11 degrees North 14 degrees 10 minutes North
44 degrees 05 minutes East 54 degrees East

IBF press release: IBF Declares “High Risk Area” In The Gulf

Following an ad hoc meeting of the IBF Warlike Operations Areas Committee in Singapore on Tuesday 7 October, the International Bargaining Forum agreed to establish a “high risk area” covering the major part of the Gulf of Aden with immediate effect.

The Memorandum of Agreement agreed at the meeting will provide that seafarers on ships covered by IBF Agreements will receive a bonus equal to 100% of their basic wage while the vessel is in transit. The normal rates of death and disability compensation for seafarers will be doubled during this period.

The growing effectiveness of the channel through the Gulf provided by the designated, IMO-approved, Maritime Security Patrol Area was recognised by the Committee and the intervention of armed naval forces in the region was welcomed. The Committee therefore agreed that seafarers on ships that used this corridor for the transit should continue to be expected to serve on their vessels during transits. However, seafarers that served on ships that chose not to use the Maritime Security Patrol Area should have the right to refuse to make the transit and to be repatriated at owners expense.

A copy of the Memorandum of Agreement adopted by the IBF Committee is attached and it sets out the co-ordinates of the IBF High Risk Area.

Speaking after the meeting Brian Orrell, the ITF spokesman said:

“We have been very seriously concerned about the reports from the Gulf – the pirate attacks seem to be escalating and covering a wider area of the Gulf. This agreement is breaking new ground in recognising that seafarers face serious risks at sea besides just the possibility of being asked to sail into an area where wars are in progress. This is a major step forward for the IBF.”

Captain Manji, the spokesman for the employers group said:

“We are pleased that the efforts being made to improve security in the Gulf by providing patrols by armed naval vessels seem to be helping the situation and we urge those responsible to increase the number of ships in the area and to strengthen the rules of engagement. We appreciate that the IBF has not designated a “high risk area” before, but the special factors in this situation justify this measure.”

ENDS

About the IBF (see www.itfseafarers.org/about-IBF.cfm for more details)

The IBF is a breakthrough negotiating forum that brings together the ITF and international maritime employers .

In 1999, the ITF began to negotiate with the International Maritime Employers’ Committee (IMEC), a group of ship owners and managers from around the world. Soon afterwards, another group of ship owners, the International Mariners Management Association of Japan (IMMAJ), also entered into dialogue with the ITF. Together, IMEC and IMMAJ form the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG). The JNG was formally established in 2003. It has since expanded to include the Korean Shipowners’ Association (KSA).

For more information contact ITF press officer, Sam Dawson.
Direct line: + 44 (0)20 7940 9260.
Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

International Transport Workers' Federation - ITF:
HEAD OFFICE
ITF House, 49 - 60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DS
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 7403 2733
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 7375 7871
Email: mail@itf.org.uk
Web: www.itfglobal.org

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