IBF HIGH RISK AREA IN THE GULF OF GUINEA

News Release International Transport Federation (ITF) March 24, 2012

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The constituents to the International
Bargaining Forum have been increasingly concerned about the deteriorating
situation in respect of security of crews employed on IBF vessels in the Gulf of
Guinea. Specifically, available reports of attacks leading to forceful seizure
of cargo and kidnapping of crew members have been considered at length. The
increase in the number of attacks and the violent tactics of hostage taking
applied by armed gangs, have been found disturbing, particularly in the waters
and ports of Nigeria and Benin. The necessity of an adequate response to the
situation has become clear in an effort to bring greater security and guarantees
to seafarers serving on IBF ships in the area.
 
In this context, following the IBF High
Level Officers meeting in Tokyo on 2nd February 2012 and further process
ofconsultations carried out by the IBF Joint Secretariats, the IBF has agreed
the following course of action: 
 
In recognition of the hazards facing
seafarers in ports, in land waterways and off the coast of Benin and Nigeria,
an IBF High Risk Area should be established with the following
co-ordinates:
 
the territorial waters of Benin and
Nigeria, including ports, terminals and roads anchorages, the delta of the Niger
river, other inland waterways and port facilities, except only when the vessel
is attached securely to a berth or SBM facility in a guarded port
area.
 
Within this Area the following provisions
should apply:
 
All companies operating vessels or
installations in the above Area should have sufficient security arrangements to
safeguard their personnel, given the nature of the risk, and should provide
adequate protection, advice and compensations to the crews. Specifically, the
following requirements should be complied with:
 
1.         Upon
the vessel’s entry into and, further, throughout the entire stay in the Area as
specified above, seafarers must be protected by increased security measures that
will provide adequatelevels of safety and security on board, such as the Best
Management Practice.
  
2.         In
the ports of the above listed countries and inland waterways and approaches to
these ports, including offshore installations, extra security measures for
reducing the vessel’s vulnerability to an unsanctioned approach and boarding
should be adopted. Such measures should, inter alia, provide for an enhanced
look-out and an emergency alert/action plan securing sufficient safety for the
crew and reliable contact with the authorities. The sufficiency of such extra
security measures should be determined depending on the vessel’s type, size and
freeboard.
 
3.         Prior
to approaching a port, detailed local advice about the security situation should
be obtained and arrivals and departures timed to coincide with security patrols
operated by respective government forces, if available. 
 
4.         Shore
leave should be prohibited unless exceptional circumstances or emergencies may
demand otherwise. 
 
5.        
Normal crew changes should not be effected in any above listed country
unless absolutely essential.
 
6.         Under
normal circumstances the company shall notify the seafarer if the vessel on
which he/she is due to serve/is serving is planned to call into the Area at
least 30 days prior to the entry. On receipt of this notification, the seafarer
may request to exercise his/her right of repatriation at Company expense, with
benefits accrued until date of return to final destination. If it proves
impossible for a Company to notify a seafarer more than 30 days prior to the
entry (for example due to schedule changes), the Company shall make all
reasonable endeavors to repatriate theseafarer at the earliest opportunity, at
Company expense, with benefits accrued until date of return to final
destination.
 
7.         The
company should pay each seafarer agreeing to proceed into the Area a
compensation amounting to 100% of the basic wage for each day of the seafarer’s
stay in the Area and a doubled compensation in case of death and/or
disability.
 
8.         In
the event of an attack regular liaison should be maintained with seafarers'
families to advise them of thestatus of respective crewmembers working in the
Area and the security measures being adopted to safeguard and assist
them.     
 
9.         The
parties have accepted that compared to the terms and conditions of the
respective IBF Collective Bargaining Agreement this agreement may lead to more
favorable treatment for seafarersserving in the Area, but in no case will it
undermine any existing contractual entitlements. 
 
This designation should take effect from 1st
April 2012 and remain in force until the IBF may decide differently. 
 
 
 
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