Philippines orders crews to avoid high-risk areas as more recovered from Eternity C
THE Philippines Department of Migrant Workers has issued an order for licensed manning agencies to reroute vessels that are manned by Filipino crew to avoid high-risk zones, particularly the area around the Bab el Mandeb, following the sinking of two vessels and the loss of at least four lives in the past week.
Previous issuances reminded seafarers of their right to refuse to sail, while another prohibited the deployment of Filipino seafarers on board ships that had been attacked. However, this is the first time an order has been made to divert vessels.
“All licensed manning agencies and their accredited foreign principals/shipowners must reroute or divert their vessels manned by Filipino crew to avoid ITF/IBF-designated warlike and high-risk zones, particularly the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” the department said.
Moreover, LMAs and principals must honour the right of Filipino seafarers to refuse sailing in the areas/zones.
“Immediate and safe repatriation must be arranged for those invoking this right,” it said.
Meanwhile, search and rescue operators have recovered another four people from the water after the sinking of the bulk carrier Eternity C (IMO: 9588249) in the Red Sea on Wednesday morning.
There were 25 individuals — 22 crew and three security members — on board the vessel when it was attacked by the Houthis on July 7. Many of the crew are Filipino nationals.
A total of 10 people — eight crew members and two security team members — have been safely recovered. Another five remain missing, while six are reported to have been taken by the Houthis. Four people are presumed to be dead.
The militant group said it had “rescued” individuals from the water in a statement yesterday.
British security firm Ambrey and Cyprus-headquartered firm Diaplous Group are leading the search and rescue operation.
Eternity C was first attacked on Monday afternoon, with sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades fired from speedboats. Lifeboats were destroyed during the raid and, by Tuesday morning, the vessel was adrift and listing.
The ship sank on Wednesday morning, after two days of repeated Houthi attacks.
It was the second bulk carrier to have been targeted — and sunk — by the Iran-backed militant group this week.
On July 6, the Houthis attacked the 63,027 dwt Liberia-flagged bulker Magic Seas (IMO: 9736169).
Merchant traffic through the Bab el Mandeb remains normal, despite these devastating incidents.
Lloyd’s List Intelligence vessel tracking data reveals 32 cargo-carrying ships above 10,000 dwt passed through the chokepoint yesterday.
Some 30 ships transited on July 8, and 34 on July 7, close to the June daily average of 31.5.
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