The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has issued a serious warning about escalating risks to seafarers navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and Israeli ports. According to the ITF, these waters have become “one of the most unstable and militarised regions,” with an increasing number of naval deployments, drone strikes, vessel seizures, and armed confrontations affecting commercial shipping. In response, the federation has urged that these zones be officially recognized as Warlike Operations Areas, granting sailors the right to refuse to enter without facing penalties and to be repatriated safely and promptly.
Insurers have already classified the region as a war-risk zone, compelling the ITF to argue that if the maritime insurance industry acknowledges the danger, shipping operators must do the same. ITF leaders emphasized that these developments are not theoretical but grounded in real-world intelligence and current conditions, noting that seafarers have consistently reported feeling like “targeted civilians.” The federation is advocating for urgent measures including formal risk designation, hazard pay, and stronger emergency support systems to protect the welfare and rights of crew members exposed to these heightened threats.
