MANILA: Thousands of Filipino seafarers aboard hundreds of vessels have been stranded near the Strait of Hormuz in the wake of the US-Israeli war on Iran, the Department of Migrant Workers said on Wednesday.
The vital waterway has been closed since US and Israeli airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28 prompted Tehran to tighten its control, disrupting traffic and leaving around 20,000 civilian seafarers stuck onboard vessels stranded in the Arabian Gulf, according to the International Maritime Organization.
Over a quarter of the stranded crew members are Filipino seafarers, said DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac.
During a session with the House of Representatives, he said the 5,434 Filipino seafarers are “under close monitoring,” with coordination in place to ensure their access to food, water and mental health support.
“The agency is tracking developments in key maritime areas including the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, and the Red Sea, to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino crew members deployed in high-risk zones,” his office said in a statement.
“As part of these efforts, an electronic tracking system has been activated, requiring licensed manning agencies to submit daily reports from strategic locations such as Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, ports in Qatar, and the western coast of the United Arab Emirates.”
Shipowners and manning agencies have assured the Filipino government that the vessels are “adequately supplied with essential provisions” that could last 45 days and were committed to "replenishing supplies as needed regardless of the cost,” the DMW said.
At least 10 seafarers have been killed and several others severely injured across 21 attacks confirmed by the IMO since the beginning of the Middle East war.
In an effort to keep thousands of seafarers and their cargoes safe after the attacks, the vessels have instead loitered on either side of the Hormuz.
The UN agency has said that tens of thousands of seafarers stranded in the Gulf are faced with dwindling supplies, fatigue and severe psychological stress.
Shipowners are reportedly waiting for more clarity on the US-Iran ceasefire agreement announced early on Wednesday, after Iran confirmed it will allow the resumption of shipping across the Strait of Hormuz for the initial two-week period.
