At least 15 foreign-flagged vessels carrying up to 260 Filipino crew members have exited the Strait of Hormuz after Iran temporarily reopened the strategic waterway, Philippine officials said Saturday.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the ships departed hours after the passage resumed, with some now off the coast of Africa and others nearing Southeast Asia, according to a report aired on Super Radyo dzBB.
More than 4,000 Filipino seafarers remain aboard about 500 foreign vessels still in or near the strait, one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. Authorities said it remains unclear how many additional ships have been able to leave the area.
“We are hopeful that tensions will continue to ease and that vessels can resume safe passage,” the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
The partial reopening comes seven weeks after hostilities erupted on Feb. 28 between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran. In response, Tehran blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes, stranding hundreds of cargo ships. The United States later imposed its own blockade targeting Iranian ports amid efforts to negotiate a ceasefire.
Iran reopened the strait Friday following a ceasefire agreement in Lebanon but warned it could shut the passage again if U.S. naval restrictions remain in place.
Separately, the DMW reported that Filipino crew members aboard the oil tanker MT Aqua 1, which was struck by an Iranian cruise missile near Qatar in the Persian Gulf, are safe. The seafarers are expected to return to the Philippines.
Philippine authorities continue to monitor the situation as thousands of Filipino maritime workers remain in the region.
