Filipino Seafarers Barred from Boarding Vessels in Red Sea, Gulf of Aden
Filipino seafarers have been prohibited from boarding foreign vessels sailing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, as announced by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday.
The order comes after the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden were classified as “War-like Zones” by the International Transport Workers’ Federation and International Bargaining Forum. To ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers, licensed manning agencies (LMAs) are required to sign an affirmation letter guaranteeing that the vessels Filipino crew members are set to board will not navigate the volatile sea lanes.
The crew members listed on the vessels must also sign the affirmation letter acknowledging that their vessel will not enter the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden. These measures aim to keep Filipino seafarers out of harm’s way.
In the event that Filipino crew members refuse to sail through the prohibited areas, they will not face discrimination and will be assigned to other vessels taking safer routes. Sanctions will be imposed on shipping companies and agencies that do not comply with the prohibition.
This decision follows a previous incident where two Filipino seafarers were killed and three others were wounded in an attack by Houthi rebels while onboard a vessel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The Philippines is currently working with other governments to secure the release of 17 Filipino crew members held captive by the rebels.
The DMW has recommended stricter protocols to ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers in high-risk or war-like zones. Filipino seafarers and organizations have also called for ships to be diverted from the Red Sea to avoid further incidents and ensure the security of crew members navigating through the area.
