The decision to this effect was made yesterday, March 26, 2026, by the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), which includes maritime trade unions and shipowners.
Additionally, the IBF extended several zones until April 13, 2026. These include the IBF combat zone (Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman); the IBF extended risk zone (Gulf of Oman): from the Ras al-Hadd Lighthouse at a bearing of 035 degrees to the extreme latitude of 24° 00’N; and the IBF extended risk zone (12 nautical miles from the coast of Israel).
The remaining zones from the IBF list of military and high-risk zones, which are part of the current IBF collective agreements, are valid until May 25, 2026.
IBF Military and High Risk Zones List
1. The IBF combat zone extends 12 nautical miles from the mainland coast of Yemen, including all ports except the Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC) in the Red Sea. Effective until May 25, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the base rate, with the minimum payment equal to five days of the base rate (plus for each day of further stay);
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work;
– refuse to sail with repatriation at the company’s expense and compensation in the amount of two months’ basic salary.
There is a mandatory requirement to strengthen security measures equivalent to Level III of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
2. IBF Combat Zone – Southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden: The boundary begins at the IBF combat zone off the coast of Yemen and extends to the coast of Eritrea. The area encompasses the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, including the Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC), and the Gulf of Aden. Effective until May 25, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
In this case, sailors are entitled to:
– a bonus equal to the basic salary, paid for the actual period of stay/transit;
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work;
– refuse to sail with the possibility of repatriation at the company’s expense and compensation in the amount of two months’ basic salary.
There is a mandatory requirement to strengthen security measures equivalent to Level III of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
3. Extended IBF Risk Area – Gulf of Guinea from the Liberia/Ivory Coast border to 00°N 005°E to the Angola/Namibia border. Effective until May 25, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the basic rate of wages, which is paid only on the day of an attack on a ship as a result of an act of piracy;
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work, if they occur on the day of the attack on the vessel.
An advanced level of Best Management Practices (BMP) is envisaged.
4. The IBF combat zone is the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait north of 45°03′ 00 north latitude. Effective until May 25, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the base rate, with the minimum payment equal to five days of the base rate (plus for each day of further stay);
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work;
– refuse to sail with repatriation at the company’s expense and compensation in the amount of two months’ basic salary.
There is a mandatory requirement to strengthen security measures equivalent to Level III of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
5. IBF combat zone – Northern Black Sea region. Effective until May 25, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to five days’ base rate (plus for each day of further stay);
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work;
– refuse to sail with repatriation at the company’s expense and compensation in the amount of two months’ basic salary.
There is a mandatory requirement to strengthen security measures equivalent to Level III of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
6. IBF combat zone – all ports of Ukraine. Effective until May 25, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the basic salary, which is paid for at least five days, and also per day if longer;
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work;
– refuse to sail with repatriation at the company’s expense and compensation in the amount of two months’ basic salary.
There is a mandatory requirement to strengthen security measures equivalent to Level III of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
7. IBF High-Risk Area – Black Sea. Valid until May 25, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the basic salary, which is paid for the actual period of stay/transit;
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work;
– refuse to sail with repatriation at the company’s expense and compensation in the amount of two months’ basic salary.
There is a mandatory requirement to strengthen security measures equivalent to Level III of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
8. The IBF combat zone is the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman. Effective until April 13, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the base rate, with the minimum payment equal to five days of the base rate (plus for each day of further stay);
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work;
– refuse to sail with repatriation at the company’s expense and compensation in the amount of two months’ basic salary.
There is a mandatory requirement to strengthen security measures equivalent to Level III of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.
9. Extended IBF Risk Area – Gulf of Oman: The area is defined from the Ras al-Hadd Lighthouse at an azimuth of 035 degrees to the maximum latitude of 24° 00’N. Valid until 13 April 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the basic rate of wages, which is paid only on the day of an attack on a ship as a result of an act of piracy;
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work, if they occur on the day of the attack on the vessel.
An advanced level of Best Management Practices (BMP) is envisaged.
10. Extended IBF Risk Zone – 12 nautical miles from the coast of Israel and 12 nautical miles from the coast of Lebanon. Effective until April 13, 2026, with the possibility of extension.
Seafarers have the right to:
– a bonus equal to the basic rate of wages, which is paid only on the day of an attack on a ship as a result of an act of piracy;
– double compensation in case of death or loss of ability to work, if they occur on the day of the attack on the vessel.
An advanced level of Best Management Practices (BMP) is envisaged.