The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has reiterated that Filipino seafarers have the right to refuse deployment to high-risk areas, including the Strait of Hormuz, as concerns over maritime security in the region continue to grow.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said shipowners and crewing agencies must give priority to the safety of Filipino crew members and respect their decision not to enter areas where their lives could be at risk.
“We continue to remind shipowners to be mindful of the safety of our seafarers on board and to keep them out of harm’s way,” Cacdac said.
He added that the government would disallow deployment when a seafarer exercises the right to refuse sailing into a high-risk area, stressing that the right must be respected.
The DMW statement comes after two Filipino seafarers were killed aboard the Bahri VLCC Sidr, which was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on 31 August.
The department had already issued an advisory on 28 August calling for reinforced safety measures for Filipino seafarers amid heightened security risks in the region.
Under Philippine government requirements, vessels crewed by Filipino nationals must meet specific conditions before transiting high-risk areas. These include carrying out risk assessments, putting appropriate security measures in place, considering vessel escorts when necessary, and complying with reporting requirements.
Cacdac said the DMW would review whether the required measures had been properly followed in the case of Sidr.
The department also said it was working to ensure that the families of the two deceased seafarers received immediate assistance. At the same time, the DMW is continuing to monitor the condition of the Filipino crew members who remain on board.
The Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, with thousands of Filipino nationals working aboard ships. Many have found themselves caught up in conflicts and security crises in the Middle East and the Black Sea, underlining the risks faced by the country’s maritime workforce as geopolitical tensions continue to affect commercial shipping.
