The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) wants ports in countries that refuse to allow crews to change to be designated high-risk areas.

The union made the demand at the Joint Negotiating Group's 11 August International Bargaining Forum Warlike Operations Area Committee (WOAC) meeting, arguing that exhausted, overworked seafarers threaten are a safety risk to themselves and others.

"The ITF is of the opinion that ports where governments refuse [to allow] seafarers to sign off should be designated [high risk areas] since mentally and physically fatigued crew that are forced to work for over 11 months constitute a high risk to the seafarers lives and the environment," the union said in a statement.