December 20, 2023

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) joins the International Transport Workers’ Federation ( ITF) call for the safety and well-being of seafarers navigating the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, in the wake of recent drone, missile, and rocket attacks on marine vessels traversing the key shipping route.

The Red Sea – Gulf of Aden shipping corridor is a vital shipping artery for global trade, transporting oil, gas and other essential commodities between Europe, Asia, and Africa. Recently, ships plying the crucial shipping corridor have been subjected to escalating and rocket attacks.

“Our overwhelming priority is to ensure the safety of our kababayans at sea. We are deeply concerned over the increasing number of attacks on marine vessels and the danger this poses to seafarers,” said DMW Officer-in-Charge Hans Leo J. Cacdac.

In a statement, ITF General Secretary Stephen Cotton stated that “(t)he primary concern of the ITF is the safety of seafarers, and we would expect shipping companies to share that concern. Seafarers move the world.”

The same ITF statement mentioned that global shipping companies Maersk, Hapag Lloyd, and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) rerouted their vessels through the Cape of Good Hope in the southern tip of Africa.

The rerouting adds another 3,00 nautical miles to their vessels’ normal routes, as well as adding weeks to the tours of duty of crew members at sea. The extended route and tours also have a logistical impact on goods, services, and delivery schedules.

“We recognize the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping corridor’s critical role in the global supply chain and the potential disruptions caused by rerouting ships away from it. Nonetheless, we believe that no cargo is worth the risk to our Filipino seafarers’ lives,” said Cacdac.

Cacdac said the DMW likewise joins the ITF in applauding the major shipping companies’ decisions to temporarily reroute their vessels’ away from the Red Sea-Gulf of Aden shipping lane to prioritize the safety and well-being of their crew members.

The DMW reports that as of Oct. 2023 (3rd Quarter) there a total of 488,606 Filipino seafarers deployed. One out of every four of the world’s seafarers is a Filipino. The Philippines, Russia, Indonesia, China, and India are the biggest suppliers of officers and skilled seafarers working on merchant ships.

In a 2021 report the International Chamber of Shipping said there were 1,892,720 seafarers of which 857,540 are officers and the remaining 1,035,180 are skilled seafarers.

“Filipino seafarers are the most hardworking and trustworthy workers, and we will never cease to monitor and promote their safety and well-being on board ships that are their welcome workplaces,” Cacdac concluded.



source: dmw.gov.ph