Red Sea: Filipino crew in warlike and high-risk areas

Following the recent Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, in particular the sinking of the Eternity C, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Philippine government department responsible for the protection of the rights and promotion of the welfare of Overseas Filipino workers, has issued Advisory No. 21, reiterating the strict requirements for all licensed manning agencies (LMAs) and their accredited foreign principals/shipowners to adhere to:

1. Department Order No. 01, S. 2024 – Guidelines on The Observance of the ITF/IBF High-Risk and War-Like Zone and Implementation of The Right to Refuse Sailing for Seafarers
   Issued 27th March 2024

2. Department Order No. 02, S. 2024 – Prohibition for Filipino Seafarers On-Board Passenger/Cruise Ships to Sail in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
   Issued 24th April 2024

3. Department Order No. 03, S. 2024 – Prohibition Against Deployment of Filipino Seafarers on Board Ships which Traversed Through ITF/IBF Designated Warlike and High-Risk Zones and Have Been Attacked.
   Issued 19th July 2024

4. Advisory No. 16, S. 2025 – Amended List of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) Warlike and High-Risk Areas
   Issued 10th June 2025

Advisory No. 21 is not an absolute prohibition to commercial ships carrying Filipino crew transiting the Red Sea; however, Shipowners are recommended to ensure strict compliance with these Orders. Please see Del Rosario’s latest Shipping update below for more information.

Key Points:

• Ship Rerouting and Compliance with Existing Orders
• Right to Refuse Sailing and Repatriation
• Mandatory Reporting
• Prohibition on Deployment to Previously Attacked Ships
• Appointment of Seafarers’ Welfare and Crisis Management Officers (SWACO)