PHL mariners can’t join ships for Red Sea, Gulf of Aden

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has banned Filipino seafarers from boarding passengers or cruise ships bound for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

In his Department Order (DO) No. 2, series of 2024, DMW Officerin-charge Hans Cacdac said the measure aims to ensure the safety of Filipino sailors in the designated “war-like zones.”

“As such, all Filipino seafarers to be employed for passengers/ cruise vessels shall be not allowed to traverse on the above mentioned zones effective immediately,” Cacdac said in the one-page order dated April 24, 2024.

In a Viber message, DMW Undersecretary Bernard P. Olalia clarified the order will not cover

Filipino sailors onboard cargo ships, which will pass through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Last month, the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) decided to elevate the status of the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea from “highrisk” to “warlike” areas.

This, after Houthi rebels hijacked last year the ship, Galaxy Leader, and launched a missile attack against the merchant vessel True Confidence in March.

The incidents of violence in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea prompted the Maritime Industry

Tripartite Council (MITC) to call for intensified measures to protect Filipino sailors from the risks in the said areas.

Under DO 2, Licensed Manning Agencies (LMAS) must sign an “affirmation letter” guaranteeing that the vessels their seafarers board will not pass through the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden and the submit it to the DMW Online Processing System for Sea-based together with the required processed Standard Employment Contract.

The letter will contain the itinerary of the vessel as well as the assurance that the crew of the ship was informed about it.

“The seafarers to be assigned to the passenger/cruise ships are likewise required to affix their signatures to indicate their concurrence to the said affirmation letter confirming knowledge that the vessel they will be boarding will not traverse the aforementioned WOA [warlike operation areas],” Cacdac said.