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Seafarers can decline to sail through Red Sea as Houthis step up attacks -industry.

Seafarers deserve to refuse to cruise on ships going through the Red Sea in a new market contract as the scenario escalates and further vessels are attacked by Yemen's Iranaligned Houthis, a labor union and industry groups said on Friday.

The Houthis have targeted commercial ships with drones and rockets in the Red Sea given that mid-November in what they describe as acts of solidarity with Palestinians versus Israel in the Gaza war.

Seafarers stay in the firing line, and have already signed agreements to get double pay when getting in the high-risk zones.

In December, locations considered high-risk and military were extended into the southern location of the Red Sea as part of negotiated plans in between seafarers and business shipping business, referred to as the International Bargaining Online Forum ( IBF).

In the most recent IBF arrangement seafarers must give seven days notification prior to entering the area and can be repatriated to another location at the shipping company's cost, the International Transport Employees' Federation (ITF) and the Joint Negotiating Group, said in a statement.

It also consists of compensation equal to two months basic wage.

The decision to consist of seafarers' right to decline to cruise was not a step ignored as this could negatively affect international trade, however the security of the seafarers is vital, the statement added.

Unfortunately the conflict in the region has actually escalated, with even more attacks on industrial vessels that are increasingly more sophisticated.

The ITF, which is the leading union organisation for seafarers, has prompted federal governments to protect the release of 25 mariners held by the Houthis after the militia pirated their ship, the Galaxy Leader, on Nov. 19.

The Houthis have actually pledged to continue their attacks as long as Israel continues to commit criminal offenses versus Palestinians.

Some 12% of global trade is estimated to travel through the Red Sea.

(source: Reuters)