ILOILO City – Six seafarers from Western Visayas were among the 23 Filipino crew members rescued by the French Navy after their vessel was attacked by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.
The seafarers were aboard a Greek-flagged crude oil tanker, MT Sounion, which was left adrift following a missile strike, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).
The rescued individuals included two from Iloilo City, and one each from Patnongon and Bugasong towns of Antique province, and one each also from the municipalities of Calatrava and Manapla of Negros Occidental.
The remaining 17 crew members hailed from various parts of the Philippines, including Cebu, Davao, Leyte, Quezon, Batangas, Pangasinan, Muntinlupa, Bukidnon, Isabela, Bohol, and Samar.
The DMW confirmed that all crew members are now en route to a safe port.
The rescue operation was detailed in an advisory on August 22, following communications with Philippine Ambassador to Bahrain Anne Jalando-on Louis and Philippine Defense Attaché to Bahrain Capt. Gacusan, further confirmed by Capt. Romeo Marana in Abu Dhabi.
During a press briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac revealed that the tanker was hit off the Yemeni port of Hodeidah on the afternoon of August 21. The attack involved three missile strikes, causing engine damage and minor water ingress. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The crew was picked up by the French Navy at approximately 2:10 p.m. on August 22. Despite the ordeal, all crew members had previously consented to sail, and none had exercised their right to refuse sailing.
In light of the attack, the DMW has updated its regulations, stating that the involved shipping principal or owner will be barred from employing Filipino seafarers for any voyages navigating through the high-risk areas of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
Additionally, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) issued a warning to Filipino seafarers advising against deployments in the Red Sea due to the escalating conflict, which poses significant risks to maritime operations.
The DFA stressed the importance of making prudent choices and utilizing the right to refuse sailing under dangerous conditions.
This incident follows another attack on June 12, 2024, when Houthi rebels targeted the M/V Tutor, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned vessel. This previous attack resulted in the disappearance of Nixon Asejo, a seafarer from Antique./PN
