22 Filipino Seafarers Come Home After Ships Hit in War Zones — From Oman Missile Strike to Black Sea Drone Attacks
Photo by: DMW
Officials from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) welcome repatriated Filipino seafarers upon their arrival at Manila's Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3.
Manila — Twenty-two Filipino seafarers returned home Monday (August 10, 2023) after being caught in separate maritime attacks near Oman and in the Black Sea, underscoring the growing risks faced by Filipino crews working on international shipping routes affected by armed conflicts.
The latest repatriations also highlight the particular vulnerability of Filipino seafarers.
The seafarers were assisted by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Philippine diplomatic missions and their licensed manning agencies as authorities arranged their disembarkation, travel and return to the Philippines.
Fourteen crew members of the MT Acheloos arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR932 after leaving Oman the previous day. Their vessel was involved in a missile incident on July 20 while sailing in waters near Oman.
The crew members safely disembarked at Shinas Port in Oman and were later transported to Muscat for their repatriation. The Migrant Workers Office in Muscat, the Philippine Embassy in Oman and OWWA helped coordinate their transportation, meals, airport assistance and travel arrangements with the vessel's manning agency and local agent.
The seafarers left Muscat on Aug. 9 aboard Qatar Airways Flight QR1125 and continued to Manila through Doha on QR932.
Eight return from Black Sea attacks
Another eight Filipino seafarers arrived aboard Turkish Airlines Flight TK084 after being caught in drone attacks in the Black Sea while serving on the MV Else, according to OWWA and Philippine media reports.
The Black Sea has become an increasingly hazardous area for commercial shipping because of the continuing Russia-Ukraine conflict, with civilian vessels and port infrastructure periodically exposed to missile and drone attacks.
The Philippines has previously assisted other Filipino seafarers affected by incidents in the region.
In late July and early August, government teams also helped crews from other vessels affected by Black Sea security incidents, including seafarers who reached ports in Romania and Türkiye.
Government assistance
Upon their arrival in Manila, the returning seafarers received airport assistance and financial support from OWWA and DMW.
The agencies also coordinated with their licensed manning companies for medical examinations, temporary accommodation and other welfare services before the seafarers returned to their families.
The assistance is part of the government's broader effort to protect Filipino migrant workers caught in international conflicts and maritime security incidents.
The Philippines is one of the world's largest sources of maritime labour, with Filipino crews serving on commercial vessels operating across major international shipping routes. Unlike workers in conflict zones on land, seafarers can find themselves exposed to danger while simply transiting international waters — often far from any Philippine diplomatic mission or safe port.
The two incidents occurred in very different theaters but reflect the same problem: global shipping is increasingly being forced to operate around active conflict zones.
The waters around Oman and the Strait of Hormuz have been affected by the broader US-Iran confrontation, while the Black Sea remains exposed to the Russia-Ukraine war.
For Filipino seafarers, that can turn an ordinary voyage into a potentially life-threatening assignment.
