May 19, 2024 - All 23 Filipino crewmen onboard the vessel attacked by the Houthi rebel group on Saturday are safe and unharmed, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). The incident occurred when the vessel was sailing close to the Yemeni port city of Hodeida. Although the ship sustained slight damage in the attack, it is continuing its journey to its next port of call.
The Houthi rebels launched a single anti-ship missile at the M/T Wind, a Panamanian-flagged and Greek-owned oil tanker, resulting in flooding that knocked out the ship’s propulsion and steering. However, the crew managed to restore power and maintain course.
This attack occurred approximately 10 nautical miles southwest of Yemen’s Red Sea port city of Mokha. Unfortunately, last March, two Filipino seafarers onboard the MV True Confidence were killed in a similar missile attack by the Houthi rebels.
The DMW is closely coordinating with international maritime authorities, shipping companies, and local manning agencies to monitor the status of ships with Filipino seafarers navigating high-risk areas and war zones in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. The agency has issued guidelines for licensed manning agencies (LMAs) to follow when assigning Filipino seafarers to ships in these regions, emphasizing safety and compensation measures.