Twenty-seven Filipino seafarers escaped unscathed after Houthi forces in Yemen reportedly attacked a bulk cargo carrier in the Red Sea, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Monday, June 24.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the all-Filipino crew of M/V Transworld Navigator are all safe and out of the high-risk area.
“It’s an all-Filipino crew pero ligtas na sila (but they are all safe). Natamaan ‘yung barko (Their ship was hit) and they are now out of the high-risk area. Hindi ko lang madisclose ‘yung location (I just could not disclose their location) but they're safe,” Cacdac said in a radio interview over dzBB.
A report reaching the DMW said that three attacks targeting the M/V Transworld Navigator occurred over the weekend, culminating on Sunday. However, the ship was not immobilized.
“Nakapagpatuloy ‘yung barko, nakapaglayag at nailigtas ‘yung 27 na crew on board (The ship managed to continue sailing and the 27 crew onboard were rescued),” Cacdac said.
According to reports, the Iran-backed Houthi claimed responsibility for the missile attack on the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned and operated bulk cargo carrier.
The United States Central Command said the crew reported minor injuries and moderate damage to the ship, but the vessel has continued underway.
Cacdac said they have yet to confirm whether there were injured crew members: “Sa pagkakaalam natin, wala (To our knowledge, there were none).”
According to the US Central Command, the M/V Transworld Navigator most recently docked in Malaysia and was en route to Egypt.
Cacdac said that the crew will likely be repatriated once they reach a safe port.
“Malaking posibilidad ang repatriation kasi sila ay nakadanas ng atake. Baka kailangan muna nilang umuwi sa kanilang pamilya sa bayan natin (There’s a big possibility for a repatriation because they were attacked. Maybe they need to come home to their families in our country),” he said.
All the families of the 27 crew members were already notified of the incident.
This has been the fourth time that Houthis attacked vessels with Filipino crew members onboard in the Red Sea, Cacdac said.
A Filipino sailor remains missing after the Houthi’s attack on MV Tutor, another Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned ship, earlier this month. The attack prompted the repatriation of 21 Filipino sailors.
Cacdac reiterated the DMW’s advice to ship owners to divert their voyages and avoid passing through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and nearby territories due to tension in the said areas.
“Kung hindi maiiwasan ay magtalaga ng maritime security force at escort, at ‘yung armed guard onboard (If it cannot be helped, there should be maritime security force and escort onboard, as well as armed guard),” he said.
The DMW chief also said that overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) should be afforded their right to refuse sailing in areas considered as high-risk due to the Red Sea crisis.
Houthi forces have been launching missiles and armed drones at Israel and merchant vessels passing through the Red Sea since October 2023 as they demand to an end into the attack on the Gaza Strip.