15.04.27Yemen Designated As War Risk Area by IBF

The International Bargaining Forum (IBF), with immediate effect, has declared all ports within the country of Yemen as areas of Warlike Operations and, as such, the rules as agreed within the IBF procedures will be applied to all vessels from the time that they are berthed ''all fast'' alongside. As soon as a vessel departs a berth within Yemen and the last line is let go for departure on passage, the status of being within a Warlike Operations Area will end.

This designation is in force from April 17, 2015 until it may be recalled.

The IBF was established in 2003 as the mechanism by which maritime employers, represented by the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG), and seafarers unions, represented by the International Transport-Workers' Federation (ITF) could negotiate over the wages and conditions of employment of seafarers serving on ships to which ITF Special Agreements apply.