Filipino Seafarers Safe After Houthi Attack on MV Groton in Gulf of Aden

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed the safety of all 17 Filipino seafarers on board a Liberian-flagged container vessel that was recently attacked by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden. The vessel, MV Groton, with 19 crew members, was hit by a ballistic missile on August 3. Despite the attack, all Filipino seafarers were reported safe, and the DMW assured that it would continue to monitor the situation and provide assistance to the seafarers and their families.

The DMW emphasized the rights of Filipino seafarers to refuse sailing in high-risk and war-like zones such as the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Seafarers were encouraged to inform the DMW of their conditions or submit their refusal to traverse these zones. The department also reiterated its call for shipowners to avoid these high-risk areas and enforced regulations prohibiting the deployment of Filipino seafarers on attacked ships in designated zones.

MV Groton sustained minor damages from the attack and diverted its course to the port of Djibouti for evaluation. The ship’s operator, Cornbulk Shipmanagement Corporation, reported no oil leakages or water entry. International reports indicated that the Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on the vessel.

Source .