Philippines set to ban deployment of seafarers in Strait of Hormuz

Philippines set to ban deployment of seafarers in Strait of Hormuz
Marcus Hand September 11, 2026 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/crewing/philippines-set-to-ban-deploym...

The world’s largest supplier of seafarers plans to temporarily prohibit Filipino crew from working in high-risk areas in the Middle East

In response to recent deaths and injuries of Filipino seafarers on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz the Philippines is set to bar the deployment its nationals to certain high-risk areas in the Middle East.

The Philippines already gives it seafarers the right to refuse to sail through high-risk areas, but a copy of draft advisory from the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) seen by Seatrade Maritime News would take this a significant step further barring owners and crewing agents from deploying Filipino seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, as well as operations in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

The draft DMW advisory details planned temporary restrictions on the deployment of Filipino seafarers in the “covered areas” of the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman.

The move is being taken it says is being taken due to the “continuing security threats and the grave and imminent risks to the life, safety, health, and welfare of Filipino seafarers”.

In the draft advisory, which is expected to be issued in the coming days, DMW directs Licensed Manning Agents (LMAs), principles, shipowners, ship managers to refrain from deploying or assigning Filipino seafarers on vessels scheduled to enter or transit the Strait of Hormuz.

The bar on deployment would also cover the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, however there is an exception if the vessels operate exclusively in these areas with transiting Hormuz. Each Filipino seafarer deployed in these areas would be required to be fully informed of the security risks, individually affirm their willingness to sail, and have the right to refuse to sail.

The advisory would also require LMAs and owners/manager to arrangement for the reassignment, crew change, disembarkation, relocation, or repatriation of Filipino seafarers for vessels entering or transiting the “covered areas”.

For Filipino seafarers already deployed in areas covered by the advisory agents and owners/managers would be required to coordinate with the DMW for their “disembarkation, crew change, relocation, or repatriation at the earliest safe and practicable opportunity”.

The Philippines will also prohibit the deployment of its seafarers onboard any vessel that has been previously attacked if it is to sail in a high-risk area, regardless any of changes in flag, ownership or management.

As the world’s largest supplier of crew to international shipping a number of Filipino seafarers have been killed or injured in attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, and the safety of Philippines nationals working overseas including on ships, has been a major political issue in the Southeast Asian nation.

Earlier this week DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac announced that the Department was investigating shipowners and Philippine manning agencies linked to five vessels, carrying Filipino seafarers, that were attacked or exposed to danger in the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea.

The probe followed the attack on the Saudi-flagged tanker Sidr in the Strait of Hormuz on 31 August killing two of the 16 Filipino crew onboard.