In 2 Red Sea attacks, 17 Pinoys safe; PH checking on 21 others
Houthi rebels armed with high-powered guns aboard small boats attacked two ships manned by Filipino seafarers sailing through the Red Sea near Yemen on Sunday and Tuesday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on Tuesday.
The two attacks were the latest to be carried out by the Yemen-based Islamist group who had been targeting vessels in the Red Sea in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza since the breakout of the Israel-Hamas conflict on Oct. 7, 2023. The first assault on a Filipino-manned ship occurred the following month.
In a statement, the DMW said the crew of the ship assaulted on Sunday, the Liberia-flagged bulk carrier MV Magic Seas, was composed of 17 Filipinos and two foreigners — a Romanian and a Vietnamese.
They survived after four crew members, who were also tasked as security personnel, repelled the attack on Sunday by an undetermined number of Houthi rebels who were carrying automatic weapons and a rocket-propelled grenade.
They abandoned their damaged vessel and were rescued by a passing container ship, Safeen Prism.
According to the official report of the ship’s licensed manning agency, Crewcare Inc., the Magic Seas was sailing about 51 nautical miles (94.45 kilometers) southwest of Hodeidah, Yemen, when they were attacked.
According to the DMW, the 17 Filipino seafarers and the two foreigners are safe in a hotel in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the Philippine government was working to bring the Filipinos home to soon.
“The [DMW] remains in close coordination with relevant government agencies and with the [licensed manning agency] to facilitate the safe and swift repatriation of the affected Filipino seafarers,” he said.
“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and keep [President Marcos] informed of any significant developments as they arise,” he added.
Awaiting confirmation
Later in a press briefing, Cadac said another Liberia-flagged ship, MV Eternity C, was attacked by Houthi rebels also off the coast of Hodeidah around midnight on Monday or Tuesday morning in Manila. The bulk carrier was carrying 22 crew members, 21 of them Filipinos.
The DMW, Cacdac said, is verifying reports from international media that two crew members of the ship were missing while two others were wounded.
“We are still confirming [these reports] at this hour. We are in close coordination with the manning agent, the principal or the ship owner. We’re having difficulty communicating with them. We’re a little frustrated about this, but we hope that they will come forward soon,” he said.
He said the DMW had already reached out to the families of the seafarers aboard the Eternity C.
The DMW, Cacdac said, will be coordinating closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding the situation and will also reach out to international groups such as the International Transport Federation, the Union of Seafarers, and the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines.
This was not the first time that Houthi rebels attacked a vessel manned by Filipino crew members. In November 2023, Houthi rebels hijacked the cargo vessel Galaxy Leader near Hodeidah and took hostage its 25 crew members, 17 of them Filipinos.
The Filipinos were held for over a year and were repatriated to the Philippines in January this year through the intercession of Middle East leaders.
Route diversion
Citing the dangers posed by attacks by the Houthis, Cacdac said the DMW issued a department order last year asking shipowners to divert the routes of their ships and avoid passing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“It is not enough to just say you’re taking the necessary safety precautions. The best way to spare our seafarers is to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” he said.
He also urged shipowners and manning agencies to report the scheduled passage of their ships, including a list of Filipino crew members onboard, in the DMW’s electronic monitoring system.
“[F]ailure to report such a significant event will result in the imposition of sanctions under DMW rules and regulations upon the manning agent and the principal,” he warned.
He reminded seafarers that they have the right to refuse sailing, especially in high-risk zones such as the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Filipino seafarers, he said, can confirm their refusal to the DMW by submitting a form to the email address, sbhighrisk@dmw.gov.ph, or by calling the agency’s hotline, 1348.
“[L]astly, both principals in the MV Magic Seas and the MV Eternity C will definitely be prohibited from boarding Filipino seafarers on their ships. Should they insist to navigate or traverse the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, they will now be prohibited from boarding Filipino seafarers…,” Cacdac said.
“We do not want any other, any more Filipino casualties in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” he added.
