International seafarers' unions have classified the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as "war-like" zones, and have called on all carriers to avoid transiting through the increasingly turbulent waters.

The decision was made late last week at a meeting of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), a group set up to negotiate seafarers' wages and working conditions. This came after the killing of three crew members of the bulk carrier True Confidence, which was hit by a Houthi missile on March 7.

He added that ships crossing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden constitute missile targets for the Houthis, which exposes the lives of sailors to grave danger.