Manila: The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is actively investigating shipowners and Philippine manning agencies associated with five vessels that were attacked or endangered in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea, involving Filipino seafarers.
According to Philippines News Agency, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced the investigation aims to ascertain if these companies breached DMW regulations on deploying Filipino seafarers to high-risk zones, including a recent directive banning agencies from placing Filipino crew on ships destined for the northern Black Sea. "We are investigating all five situations and their respective manning agencies and ship owners," Cacdac stated in a press briefing.
The inquiry follows an attack on August 31 on the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker MT SIDR in the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in the deaths of two Filipino seafarers among the 16 aboard. The 14 survivors, assisted by Philippine officials in Oman and the UAE, were expected to return to the Philippines Tuesday night. Efforts to repatriate the two deceased seafarers, currently in Al-Qasab, northern Oman, are ongoing.
In a separate incident in the Northern Black Sea, the MV Gingo, with 26 Filipino seafarers, was attacked while docked in Odesa, Ukraine. The crew disembarked safely, and their repatriation is planned for September 10 or 11. The MV Nostos, with 23 Filipinos, was similarly attacked but managed to reach a safer port in Turkiye, with repatriation also targeted for September 11.
Moreover, the MT Siren, carrying 21 Filipino seafarers, was attacked on September 4 but has since reached safety. Plans for the crew's evacuation are underway. The MV Chara, with 12 Filipino seafarers, is traveling from Turkiye to Bulgaria, where evacuation is anticipated. All vessels in the Northern Black Sea are now in safe ports with no injuries reported.
Cacdac will travel to Dubai, UAE, to meet with shipowners as part of the compliance check. He emphasized investigating whether shipowners and manning agencies adhered to DMW rules regarding safe transit and avoidance of high-risk areas, and if not feasible, respecting seafarers' rights to refuse sailing. Companies must provide risk assessments and military support or armed guards in case of an attack.
The DMW had previously ordered accredited shipowners and licensed manning agencies not to deploy Filipino seafarers to the northern Black Sea, deemed a high-risk conflict zone by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department of National Defense. Violations of this directive may result in suspending licenses or imposing fines, contingent on the investigation's findings.
Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, the DMW is awaiting security assessments from the DFA and DND to decide whether Filipino seafarers should continue boarding vessels transiting the area after the MT SIDR incident.
