Twenty three Filipino seafarers were among those rescued by a European Union naval mission from a Greek-flagged oil tanker, MT Sounion, following an attack in the Red Sea near Yemen, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The DFA said the vessel had been hit in the attack and caught fire which disabled its engines.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels are suspected to be behind the assault. The Houthis have increasingly targeted international vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as part of their broader campaign to support Hamas in its conflict with Israel.
In response to the growing threat, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has implemented a ban on Filipino seafarers boarding ships operated by companies whose vessels had come under attack in these regions.
The shipowner of the MT Sounion is among those affected by this policy, with the DMW now considering expanding the restriction to include six additional shipowners.
Over the past year, the Houthis have attacked at least four vessels carrying Filipino crew members. These incidents have resulted in two fatalities, one missing, and several hostages still held by the rebel group.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has warned Filipino seafarers and the public about the heightened risks associated with navigating the Red Sea.
The DFA said that the situation in the Red Sea has deteriorated significantly, posing a “clear and present danger” to Filipino crew members aboard vessels operating in the area.
As a result, the DFA is urging Filipino seafarers to carefully consider their safety when making decisions about sailing through these waters.
“The DFA therefore urges Filipino seafarers to exercise prudent choice and their ‘right-to-refuse sailing’ in the Red Sea,” DFA said in a statement.
Filipino seafarers are encouraged to prioritize their safety and consider alternative routes or employment options if possible, while the DFA continues to monitor the situation closely.
