More than 1,800 Filipino seafarers have safely navigated the Strait of Hormuz since April amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers announced Tuesday.
The DMW said 1,834 Filipino crew members aboard 59 vessels successfully crossed the strategically vital waterway between April and May 25, 2026. The transiting ships included oil tankers, cargo ships, container vessels, and other commercial vessels operating in the region.
“As of May 25, 2026, a total of 59 vessels carrying 1,834 Filipino crew members have crossed the Strait of Hormuz from April to May this year,” the agency said in a Facebook post.
The DMW said it continues to closely monitor all vessel transits through the strait, one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino workers at sea. The Philippines is among the top suppliers of maritime labor globally, with tens of thousands of its nationals working aboard international commercial vessels at any given time.
The announcement comes as regional tensions have kept international shipping lanes in the Middle East under heightened scrutiny. Philippine authorities have not reported any incidents involving Filipino seafarers in the area during the monitored period.
