Seafarer Resource · IBF list as agreed 6 August 2026
IBF Warlike & High Risk Areas 2026: Zones, Pay & Benefits
This is the current IBF list of designated risk areas — every Warlike Operations Area and High Risk Area now in force, with the applicable benefits for seafarer pay and compensation under the relevant IBF agreement. Exact figures always follow your own CBA; this page transcribes the official list, it does not enlarge it.
What the designations mean
Three tiers matter for a seafarer's wallet and safety. A Warlike Operations Area (WOA) is the highest: a region the IBF Warlike Operations Area Committee judges to carry an active risk of hostilities against merchant shipping — full war bonus from entry, doubled compensation, and the right to refuse. A High Risk Area (HRA) carries the same benefits for the actual duration of stay or transit. An Extended Risk Zone (ERZ) pays the bonus and doubled compensation only on a day the vessel is actually attacked.
The designations are set by committee against the threat picture, not by any single headline. That distinction matters: a dramatic news day in a strait does not by itself create an entitlement, and a quiet news day does not remove one.
The current IBF list, in full
As agreed by the Warlike Operations Area Committee on 6 August 2026 and extended until 10 September 2026. Source: ITF Seafarers — IBF warlike and high-risk areas. Eagle Intelligence monitors the source page continuously and updates this register when the committee revises the list.
1. 12 nm off the mainland Yemeni Coast
Yemeni territorial waters to the 12 nm limit, including all ports, excluding the Maritime Security Transit Corridor (MSTC) in its entirety. Applies to all vessels, underway, at anchor or berthed.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for 5 days minimum + per day if longer
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Right to refuse sailing into the area, with repatriation at company's cost and compensation equal to 2 months' basic wage
- Mandatory enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3
In force 1 March 2018 – 25 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
2. Southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
South of the boundary from the Saudi border (16°24.12'N) due west to the Eritrean coast, encompassing the Bab el Mandeb Strait INCLUDING the MSTC, and the Gulf of Aden; the coasts of Djibouti and Somalia are included.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for 5 days minimum + per day if longer
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Right to refuse sailing into the area, with repatriation at company's cost and compensation equal to 2 months' basic wage
- Mandatory enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3
In force 19 March 2024 – 25 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
3. Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch
All waters and ports of the Sea of Azov and the Strait of Kerch north of latitude 45°03'00"N.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for 5 days minimum + per day if longer
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Right to refuse sailing into the area, with repatriation at company's cost and compensation equal to 2 months' basic wage
- Mandatory enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3
In force 1 November 2023 – 25 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
4. Northern Black Sea Region
From the Ukrainian/Romanian border to position 45°10'N 031°00'E and to position 45°21'N 032°30'E.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for 5 days minimum + per day if longer
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Right to refuse sailing into the area, with repatriation at company's cost and compensation equal to 2 months' basic wage
- Mandatory enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3
In force 1 March 2022 – 25 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
5. All ports in Ukraine
All Ukrainian ports; applies to all vessels, underway, at anchor or berthed.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for 5 days minimum + per day if longer
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Right to refuse sailing into the area, with repatriation at company's cost and compensation equal to 2 months' basic wage
- Mandatory enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3
In force 1 March 2022 – 25 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
6. Black Sea
Between the northern WOAs (Designations 3-4) / Crimean coastline and the southern limit running 43°25'01"N 39°55'00"E → 44°04'00"N 31°24'00"E → 44°44'00"N 31°11'00"E → 45°12'00"N 29°41'00"E.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for the actual duration of stay / transit
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Right to refuse sailing into the area, with repatriation at company's cost and compensation equal to 2 months' basic wage
- Mandatory enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3
In force 1 November 2023 – 25 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
7. Persian Gulf, Straits of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman
All navigable water west of the line 24°00'N 057°06'E → 24°00'N 060°58'E, then bearing 035° from Ra's al Hadd light to 24°52'30"N 061°39'00"E, then north to the Pakistan border at 25°10'30"N 061°39'E. Includes all ports, terminals, road anchorages and inland waterways; applies to all vessels, underway, at anchor or berthed.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for 5 days minimum + per day if longer
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Right to refuse sailing into the area, with repatriation at company's cost and compensation equal to 2 months' basic wage
- Mandatory enhanced security arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3
In force 6 March 2026 – 10 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
8. Gulf of Oman
From Ra's al Hadd light on a bearing of 035° to the limiting latitude of 24°00'N (northern limit 24°00'N 057°06'E → 24°00'N 060°58'E).
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable only on the day the vessel is attacked
- Doubled compensation for death and disability if they occur on the day the vessel is attacked
- Increased BMP level
In force 2 March 2026 – 10 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
9. 12 nm off Israel and Lebanon coastline
12 nm offshore, northern limit 34°38'10"N 035°35.05'E → 34°38'10"N 035°58'10"E, southern limit 31°41.8'N 034°17.9'E → 31°35'41"N 034°29'27"E; excluding the areas designated under Item 10.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable only on the day the vessel is attacked
- Doubled compensation for death and disability if they occur on the day the vessel is attacked
- Increased BMP level
In force 13 March 2026 – 10 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
10. Israeli Mediterranean Ports and Lebanese Ports
Vessels alongside in Israeli Mediterranean ports and Lebanese ports, and during pilotage on arrival or departure. An exceptional measure limited in period and region.
- Bonus equal to basic wage, payable for the actual duration of stay in Level 2 of the Extended Risk Zone (rounded up to each full day)
- Doubled compensation for death and disability
- Increased BMP level
In force 3 April 2026 – 10 September 2026, further extensions subject to mutual consent between the IBF parties.
What you are entitled to
Under most IBF/ITF-aligned collective bargaining agreements, a designated warlike area triggers:
- A war bonus — equal to 100% of basic wage, payable for a minimum of 5 days on entry and then for each day of the vessel's actual stay in the area (in effect, doubled basic pay for those days).
- Doubled death and disability compensation for the duration of the transit.
- The right to refuse to proceed into the area, with repatriation at the company's cost, benefits accrued until return to the port of engagement, and compensation of 2 months' basic wage — without it counting as a breach of contract.
- Enhanced security — ship operators must implement arrangements equivalent to ISPS Level 3 in WOAs/HRA, or increased BMP level in Extended Risk Zones.
Exact figures and conditions are set by the applicable CBA (for example IBF, and affiliated unions). Treat the above as the IBF framework, not your contract. Always read your own CBA and Seafarer's Employment Agreement.
Before you transit: a checklist
- Confirm the current IBF/ITF Warlike Operations Area list for your route.
- Read the war-risk clauses in your CBA and Seafarer's Employment Agreement.
- Get the bonus, comp and repatriation terms in writing before entering the area.
- Know your right to refuse and the repatriation terms that come with it.
- Keep dated records of entry and exit from the designated zone.
You can see how these zones sit against live risk on the Eagle live threat map and the War-Risk Index, check whether the Strait of Hormuz is open, estimate an additional war-risk premium (AWRP) for the ship, or run a specific voyage through the transit-risk tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is a warlike operations area?
A warlike operations area (WOA) is a sea region that the IBF Warlike Operations Area Committee designates as carrying an active risk of hostilities against merchant shipping. In a designated WOA, seafarers are entitled to enhanced protections under their collective bargaining agreement (CBA): a bonus equal to basic wage (5 days minimum), doubled death and disability compensation, the right to refuse sailing with repatriation at company cost, and enhanced security equivalent to ISPS Level 3.
How much extra pay do seafarers get in a warlike or high-risk area?
In an IBF Warlike Operations Area the bonus equals 100% of basic wage, payable for a minimum of 5 days on entry and then for each day of the vessel's actual stay, plus doubled compensation for death and disability. In the Black Sea High Risk Area the same bonus applies but for the actual duration of stay or transit. In an Extended Risk Zone the bonus is payable only on a day the vessel is attacked. Always confirm exact figures against your own CBA.
Can a seafarer refuse to sail into a warlike area?
Yes. In designated Warlike Operations Areas and the Black Sea High Risk Area, a seafarer has the right not to proceed with the passage. The seafarer must be repatriated at the company's cost, with benefits accrued until the date of return to the port of engagement and compensation of 2 months' basic wage — without this being treated as a breach of contract. Check the exact wording of your CBA.
Is the Strait of Hormuz a designated warlike area right now?
Yes. The Persian Gulf, Straits of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman are an IBF Warlike Operations Area (Designation 7), in force from 6 March 2026 and currently extended to 10 September 2026. It covers all ports, terminals, road anchorages and inland waterways in the area and applies to vessels underway, at anchor or berthed. Verify against the live IBF/ITF list before transit — designations are extended or revised by committee.
Where can I verify the current designated zones?
The authoritative source is the IBF list published on the ITF Seafarers site (itfseafarers.org, under Resources: IBF warlike and high-risk areas). This page transcribes that list and Eagle Intelligence monitors the source page continuously for changes, but the official list and your CBA always control.
More seafarer resources
Explore the seafarer hub, check ITF wage benchmarks, track what changed this week in the regulatory feed, or ask a question with Ask Eagle.
This page transcribes the IBF/ITF designated risk-areas list for general information. It is not legal advice and not a substitute for the official IBF/ITF list or your own CBA. Verify current designations and exact entitlements before any transit. — Eagle Intelligence Unit.