DMW checks on seafarers after Strait of Hormuz attacks

The Department of Migrant Workers on Monday said they are currently checking the status of Filipino seafarers to determine if they are among those reported hurt following the attack by Israeli forces on merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

“We’re monitoring the situation closely in the Strait of Hormuz, the seafarers literally are in communication in terms of messenger and all these platforms. We’re working closely with their licensing agencies and the ship owners to ensure their safety and well-being,” said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac in a Palace briefing on Monday.

He said that currently, they are receiving reports that Filipino seafarers are having concerns about food supplies.

“But, rest assured, we’re helping them out also and looking to get them out of there. As we have already mentioned, this is not the first time we have been handling a ship with seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, so we were working with the agencies and ship owners to get them out of the Strait of Hormuz,” Cacdac said.

Earlier, the International Maritime Organization aired concern over the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, as some seafarers are reportedly hurt following attacks on vessels plying the route.

In a report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, posted by independent provider of global energy and commodity market intelligence Argus, as of 2 March, explosive projectiles hit two more ships near the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the total vessel attacks to three.

“One tanker was struck 50 nautical miles (nm) north of Muscat, Oman, leading to a fire in the engine room that is now reportedly under control. A second was hit 17nm northwest of Mina Saqr, UAE, leading to a fire that was subsequently extinguished. This was in addition to a strike on a Palau-flagged chemicals and oil products tanker earlier on Sunday,” the report said.

One additional vessel, 35nm west of Sharjah, UAE, reported a projectile explosion nearby that had no impact, the report added.