Photo by ABC
MANILA, Philippines — All 13 Filipinos and a Ukrainian who are crew members of a bulk carrier that was hit by missiles in the Red Sea on Tuesday are safe.
“The vessel, a bulk carrier, sustained some damage from four missiles launched by Houthi rebels as the ship was traversing the Yemeni coast near Hodeidah late [Tuesday] afternoon, Manila time,” the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said on Wednesday.
“The vessel is continuing its voyage to its next port of call,” it added, quoting a report from the shipping company’s local manning agency.
READ: 2 Filipino sailors killed in Houthi missile attack
While the DMW did not identify the vessel, news reports said the bulk carrier M/V Laax was involved in a missile attack while traversing the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday.
The vessel reportedly sustained some damage in its cargo hold and took on water although it was able to continue its voyage.
No group has so far claimed responsibility but Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been attacking for several months ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden while demanding that Israel end the war in the Gaza enclave in Palestine.
READ: PH prohibits Filipino seafarers on Red Sea, Gulf of Aden routes
Stricter protocols
Last month, the DMW and Philippine Maritime Industry Tripartite Council agreed to impose stricter protocols to ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers after a missile attack on March 6 on the bulk carrier M/V True Confidence killed three crew members, two of them Filipinos. Two other Filipinos were also seriously injured.
Following the incident, the DMW has required manning agencies to submit a written guarantee that vessels with Filipino crew members will not traverse the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which have been designated as “war-like zones.”
Manning agencies must also submit their vessels’ detailed itinerary during the processing of crew employment contracts or before their deployment.
The DMW has likewise told Filipino seafarers who want to exercise their right to refuse sailing through the Red Sea or Gulf of Aden to directly contact the department while they are at sea.