Revision of the IBF High Risk Area

News Release International Transport Federation (ITF) March 25, 2011

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Revision of the IBF High Risk Area
in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean
agreed on 25 March 2011
London, United Kingdom
Given continuing pirate attacks on merchant ships despite the
presence of a
number of international navies, the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG)
and the
International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) agreed in London,
United
Kingdom to extend the geographical coverage of the IBF High Risk
Area and
terms and conditions applying in said area as follows:
1. With effect from 0001Z on 1st April 2011 the Extended Risk Zone
is as
follows:
“The western border of the Zone runs from the coastline at the
border
of Djibouti and Somalia to position 11 48 N, 45 E; from 12 00 N,
45 E to
Mayyun Island in the Bab El Mandeb Straits.
The eastern border is set at 78 E, the southern border is set at
10 S and
the Northern Border set at 26 N.”
The IBF Extended Risk Zone Map is attached in
Annex.
2. The IBF constituents have agreed that during a vessel’s transit
of the
Extended Risk Zone protection of seafarers through the provision
of
increased security measures should be adopted. Such measures must
be
above the latest Best Management Practice level and may include
the
provision of personnel or systems which appropriately reduce
the
vulnerability of a vessel. The sufficiency of such extra security
measures
should be determined depending on vessel type, size, freeboard
during
transit and speed, with consulting and seeking advice of
respective ITF
union(s) where necessary.
3. The IBF constituents confirm that the adoption of Best
Management Practice
is required of all vessels operating under IBF agreements as a
minimum
standard of protection.
4. Within the Extended Risk Zone the IBF constituents agree to
retain the
previously designated IBF High Risk Area as it is recognised that
the pirate
attacks emanate mainly from bases in this region. The Western
Border of this
High Risk Area runs from the coastline at the border of Djibouti
and Somalia
to position 11 48 N, 45 E; from 12 00 N, 45 E to Mayyun Island in
the Bab El
Mandeb Straits. The Eastern Border runs from Rhiy di-Irisal on
Suqutra
Island to position 14 18 N, 53 E; from 14 30 N, 53 E to the
coastline at the
border between Yemen and Oman, together with a 400 mile zone off
the
eastern coast of Somalia, i.e. from Suqutra Island down to the
Kenian border
in the South.
5. During the period of transit of the area designated as the IBF
High Risk Area
seafarers shall be entitled to compensation amounting to 100% of
the basic
wage and a doubled compensation payable in case of death and
disability.
This entitlement should apply on each day of the vessel’s stay in
the High
Risk Area.
6. In the case of vessels that will transit the IBF High Risk Area
outside of the
east bound and west bound lanes created under the
International
Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), seafarers have the right not
to
proceed with the passage. In such an event, the seafarer concerned
shall be
repatriated at the company’s cost with benefits accrued until date
of return to
the port of engagement. This entitlement shall only apply in
respect of
vessels which are bound to enter the IBF High Risk Area, and will
not apply
in case of crossing the rest of the Extended Risk Zone.
7. Vessels may deviate from the International Recommended Transit
Corridor
(IRTC) lanes without affecting the terms and conditions for the
seafarers
onboard for collision avoidance purposes only, as long as they are
returned
to the original lanes as soon as it is safe and practicable to do
so.
8. During the period of transit of the IBF Extended Risk Zone,
outside the area
which is designated as High Risk Area, each seafarer shall be
entitled to a
bonus equal to 100% of the basic wage and a doubled compensation
in case
of injury or death - on any day during which the vessel he serving
on is
attacked. The proof of these entitlements shall be subject to a
confirmed entry
into the ship’s log book and a report of attack being lodged with
recognised
international reporting authorities, such as UK MTO. The maximum
period
when these entitlements may apply shall not exceed the number of
days of
the vessel’s transit of the IBF Extended Risk Zone outside the
area designated
as High Risk Area. For the purpose of this article an attack means
any
unauthorised and obvious action taken by a third party in a wilful
attempt to
board or damage the vessel or to harm the crew which leads to the
activation
of the relevant vessel contingency plans including the alerting of
the whole
crew.
9. The IBF constituents believe that, in order to assist the
military efforts to
counter piracy in this region, all vessels that are subject to a
confirmed attack
should report to international navies present in the area or other
relevant
authority, to assist in the deployment of naval resources to
appropriate areas,
where piracy attacks are occurring.
10.Within all of the IBF Extended Risk Zone, including the High
Risk Area, the
above identified entitlements to double basic pay and double
compensation
for injury or death will not apply while vessels are alongside a
berth, at
anchor in secure anchorages off ports or attached to SBM
facilities - with
exception of Somali waters and ports. It is understood that
vessels will have
to transit the high risk area in order to proceed to certain ports
and as such
the bonuses mentioned in above should cease when a vessel is
either all
secure alongside, brought up to her anchor or fully coupled to a
SBM in any
port of the IBF Extended Risk Zone, excluding Somalia. Likewise
when
sailing, the applicability of bonuses etc. should commence when
the vessel is
“all gone”, i.e. the last line is let go from a berth, when the
anchor is aweigh
or a vessel has de-coupled from a SBM.
11. This Revision of the IBF High Risk Area remains in force from
0001Z on 1st
April until any further revision or amendment is adopted by the
constituents
of the International Bargaining Forum.
ANNEX: IBF Extended Risk Zone
Limits of Extended Risk Zone
Extended Risk Zone (Green Shade)
High Risk Area (Red Shade)
Limits of High Risk Area
IRTC</DIV></BODY></HTML>