Yemeni coastguards loyal to the internationally-recognized government ride in a patrol boat in the Red Sea off the government-held town of Mokha in the western Taiz province, close to the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait, on April 15, 2024. AFP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — The deployment of Filipino seafarers onboard passenger and cruise ships set to sail through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is now prohibited.
The decision was contained in the Department of Migrant Workers’ (DMW) Order No. 2 released on Wednesday.
The directive was arrived at after “recent amendments” to the International Transport Workers’ Federation and International Bargaining Forum list of “High-Risk Areas” and “War-like Zones” to include the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
READ: DMW assures seafarers’ right to refuse deployment to high-risk areas
“Department Order No. 2 (s. 2024) also comes from collective discussions during last month’s meeting with the DMW and the Philippine Maritime Industry Tripartite Council (MITC). The DMW and MITC agreed to underscore the urgent need for stricter protocols to ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers navigating the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” said DMW in a statement also issued on Wednesday.
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Under the newly issued order, licensed manning agencies are now required to sign an affirmation letter guaranteeing that their vessels will not navigate the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden.
“This commitment, along with the vessel’s detailed itinerary, must be submitted to the DMW during the documentation of crew employment contracts or before their deployment,” the DMW said.
In November 2023, the MV Galaxy Leader ship carrying 17 Filipino seafarers was seized in the Red Sea by Houthi rebels. The vessel and its crew remain in the custody of Houthi rebels to date.
Meanwhile, MV True Confidence, with 13 Filipinos o n board, was hit by a Houthi-missile in the Red Sea. The incident killed two Filipinos and one Vietnamese crew.