Philippines Brings Home 837 Seafarers from Black Sea and Hormuz
The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) says it has repatriated 837 Filipino seafarers affected by attacks on ships in the northern Black Sea and the Strait of Hormuz since the start of 2026. Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac gave the figures on 11 November at a press briefing at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Manila, during the launch of a new transit lounge for overseas Filipino workers.
According to the DMW, 1,189 Filipino seafarers on ships in these two danger zones have been affected by security incidents this year. Of them, 837 have returned home, and the department says it continues to help those who are still abroad.
The figures come days after a Filipino seafarer was killed on the tanker Velos Sapphire, which was hit in the Persian Gulf on 5 November. Cacdac said the seafarer’s remains are expected to be brought home soon. His 21 surviving crewmates are also being repatriated.
From the CrewMirror Blog
Filipino crews have also been caught up in the Black Sea conflict. Earlier this month, 14 Filipino seafarers from the sunk container ship Contship Jet returned home after their ship was hit by sea drones off Bulgaria. Drone attacks, drifting mines and GPS jamming continue to make Black Sea shipping safety a daily concern for crews.
The Philippines is the world’s largest supplier of seafarers, so attacks on merchant ships in these regions affect Filipino crews more than most. The DMW has not said how many of the 352 seafarers still abroad are on board ships and how many are waiting ashore.
CrewMirror Takeaway
Repatriation is a right under the Maritime Labour Convention, and governments are now handling it on a large scale. Seafarers of every nationality serving near war zones should keep copies of their contracts and identity documents ready, so that a sign-off and journey home can be arranged quickly if needed.
