The Norwegian Seafarers’ Union has notified its members that the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has formally designated the Strait of Hormuz and adjacent waters as a High Risk Area.
The classification follows a period of escalating military tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran, with security concerns expanding across the broader Middle East.
According to the advisory circulated by the Norwegian Seafarers’ Union, the ITF designation extends beyond the strait itself to include the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. These waterways collectively form one of the most heavily trafficked maritime corridors in global trade, particularly for energy shipments moving between the Middle East and international markets.
The High Risk Area classification activates provisions negotiated through the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), under which seafarers may be eligible for additional safeguards and compensation when operating within the designated zone.
Under these agreements, crews transiting the area may receive a bonus equivalent to their basic wage for the duration of the passage, while compensation provisions for death or disability are doubled. Seafarers also retain the right to decline assignments in the area without penalty, with employers required to arrange repatriation at company expense and provide compensation equivalent to two months of basic wages should a crew member exercise that option.
The arrangements further recommend the adoption of enhanced onboard security measures comparable to elevated International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS) protocols.
Union representatives have advised seafarers to review the terms of their Collective Bargaining Agreements or consult shipboard human resources personnel to determine the extent of their eligibility under these provisions.
The ITF represents more than 16.5 million transport workers through over 730 affiliated unions across more than 150 countries, making it one of the largest labour organizations in the international transport sector. Negotiations covering seafarers’ employment conditions and remuneration are conducted through the IBF framework, which brings together the ITF and maritime employers represented by the Joint Negotiating Group. The latter includes industry bodies such as the International Maritime Employers’ Council, the International Mariners Management Association of Japan, the Korean Shipowners Association and Evergreen Marine Corporation.
Maritime labour organisations have indicated that the High Risk Area designation reflects the evolving security environment in the region and is intended to ensure that seafarers operating in these waters receive appropriate protections and financial compensation when exposed to elevated operational risk.