The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reported that two Filipino seafarers were killed, 12 were injured and one remained missing following a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea.
During a press conference on July 20, DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac said nine vessels carrying a total of 139 Filipino seafarers had been attacked while operating in or near Ukrainian and Russian ports.
According to the department, 124 Filipino crew members were confirmed safe and unharmed. Four of the injured seafarers have already been repatriated, while the remaining eight are receiving medical treatment or recovering abroad.
One Filipino seafarer died following an attack on July 6, while another was killed in a separate incident on July 19. The DMW said it is coordinating with the victims’ families, manning agencies, shipowners and Philippine diplomatic posts regarding assistance and the repatriation of remains.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is also providing medical, psychological and welfare assistance to the affected seafarers and their families.
Cacdac renewed the government’s call for licensed manning agencies, shipowners and foreign principals to reroute vessels away from war-like and high-risk areas whenever alternative routes are available.
The DMW also reminded Filipino seafarers of their right to refuse sailing into designated war-like areas. Companies are required to inform crew members of the risks, available benefits and their rights before entering covered zones.
The department is investigating whether the concerned manning agencies and shipowners complied with reporting, consent and protection requirements for Filipino crew members deployed to the northern Black Sea.
Possible administrative sanctions may be imposed against agencies found to have violated deployment regulations or failed to report their vessels’ entry into high-risk areas.
The names of the affected vessels, casualties and concerned companies were not publicly released during the briefing.