PH ships in foreign waters urged to boost security
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has ordered all Philippine-registered ships traveling in international waters to implement heightened security and monitoring measures given the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
In an advisory dated Feb. 28 and made public on Tuesday, Marina asked shipowners, operators, managers, manning agencies and other maritime enterprises to “strictly observe precautionary measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino seafarers and the security of vessels operating in or transiting affected areas.”
As part of the heightened security measures, the ships were ordered to immediately report to the maritime regulatory body any incident, observed military activity or suspicious approach to the vessel through the Overseas Shipping Service.
The master of the ship and its crew members must also report their current position, next port of call and operational status to the ship’s owners, operators or managers, who, in turn, must relay this information to Marina.
Constant communication
At the same time, the ships were directed to maintain constant communication with a nearby branch of the Migrant Workers Office.
Shipowners and operators were also urged to prioritize the welfare and safety of their crew members amid the ongoing conflict, with Marina stressing the need for a proper accounting of all Filipino seafarers onboard a vessel.
“Owners and operators are reminded of their obligations under the Maritime Labor Convention 2006 to ensure the safety and well-being of seafarers, including timely repatriation when warranted,” it said in the advisory.
The maritime regulatory agency said that the nearest Philippine embassy or consulate, as well as the Department of Migrant Workers, must be immediately contacted should there be any cases of seafarers in distress and in need of urgent assistance.
At the same time, the ships were also directed to implement heightened security protocols in accordance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, which includes conducting security briefings for all crew members and ensuring the proper implementation of general emergency and ship security alarm procedures.
Emergency procedures
Marina further advised ships to continuously monitor maritime security advisories issued by the International Maritime Organization and other relevant authorities, and strictly adhere to established traffic separation schemes.
“Masters and officers on watch must maintain heightened vigilance and situational awareness throughout affected areas,” it said.
On Feb. 28, the United States and Israel launched an attack against Iran, with the Islamic Republic retaliating by carrying out strikes across the Middle East that targeted US bases.
The first Filipino casualty was reported on Sunday: a caregiver in Israel who was killed after Iranian forces launched a counterattack.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac earlier said that exit points and repatriation measures were in place to assist Filipinos affected by the ongoing conflict.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs, an estimated 2.4 million Filipinos are currently in the Middle East. As of Tuesday, a total of 1,460 Filipinos have requested repatriation to the Philippines.
