MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will maintain a temporary ban on deploying its seafarers to the northern Black Sea due to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and indiscriminate attacks on commercial shipping, a top government official said Friday.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the restriction is based on security assessments from the national defense and foreign affairs departments, which classify the region as a zone of full-scale international armed conflict.
“It is clear that the ships being attacked are not being chosen,” Cacdac said of the crossfire. “They don’t even ask whether or not there are Filipino crew members, they just attack.”
The northern Black Sea remains designated as a high-risk and “warlike operations” area by the International Bargaining Forum and the International Transport Workers’ Federation due to persistent hostilities.
Since the conflict escalated, 281 Filipino seafarers across 20 ships have been caught in attacks in the region. Among them, three have died, 15 were injured and one remains missing, according to government data.
At least 200 seafarers have returned to the Philippines, including all 15 who were injured and the remains of two of the fatalities. The remains of the third deceased seafarer are currently in Romania and are expected to be brought home within the week.
Thirty-five sailors are awaiting flights home, while 46 remain aboard their vessels.
The Department of Migrant Workers issued an advisory on July 31 reiterating protective measures for maritime workers. The deployment ban will undergo a 15-day review as the department seeks updated intelligence from security agencies, Cacdac said.
The Philippine government is providing affected seafarers with housing, transportation and psychosocial assistance, while families of the deceased are receiving financial support, including educational scholarships.
The department is also investigating whether shipowners are complying with mandatory reporting requirements and honoring seafarers’ rights to refuse sailing into designated high-risk zones.
