Ibf Committee News

Following a meeting of the JNG/ITF Secretariat in London on Tuesday 13 January and agreement reached between the parties of the IBF on 26 January, the International Bargaining Forum has agreed to amend the "High Risk Area" covering the major part of the Gulf of Aden by adopting the revised UKMTO Transit Corridors. From 1 February 2009 all ships entering the "High Risk Area" are directed to transit the Gulf by following the new East and West bound transit lanes, which have been adopted following the increase in number and re-positioning of warships in the region. The new two lane system will also assist in preventing possible collision scenarios.

Following an emergency ad hoc meeting of the IBF Warlike Operations Areas Committee in on October 7, the International Bargaining Forum agreed to establish a 'high risk area' covering the major part of the with immediate effect. Reports of recent attacks and developments by naval services to provide protection were discussed at length and it was agreed that the increase in the number of attacks and the number of seafarers currently held hostage was deeply disturbing, although the establishment of the Maritime Security Patrol Area was welcomed as an effort to bring greater security to seafarers serving on ships transiting the Gulf.