8 Filipino Seafarers Dead, 2 Missing As Danger Persists in Hormuz, Black Sea

Cover image: One of Saudi Arabia's Bahri oil tankers hit by “unidentified projectiles” on the night of August 31 while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Two Filipino seafarers aboard the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker SIDR (IMO number: 9854715) were killed instantly. | Photo by: Saudi Press Agency

MANILA — The death toll among Filipino seafarers caught in the Strait of Hormuz and Black Sea conflicts has risen to eight, with two Filipino sailors still missing, according to the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

The confirmed deaths followed attacks on ships transiting the strategic water bodies.

Hormuz, a narrow waterway used by Gulf oil and gas producers, accounts for up to 25% of global oil trade.

The Black Sea also serves as a critical maritime chokepoint and energy export artery, connecting major producers in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan to markets in Europe and beyond.

Across all global conflict zones this year, the DMW reported a total of 8 Filipino seafarer fatalities — 3 in the Black Sea and 5 from attacks in Hormuz.

The death toll highlights the risks from conflicts to Filipino merchant mariners.

The DMW earlier confirmed that drone and missile strikes in the northern Black Sea have killed 3 and injured 15, with one still missing.

A total of 236 Filipino crew members across 17 commercial vessels had been affected so far.

Significantly, two out of three vessels hit in the disputed Hormuz Strait between Iran and Oman had Filipino crew members.

On the night of August 31, two Filipino seafarers were killed after the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker SIDR was attacked while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. One SIDR Filipino crew is still "missing".

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac told local Philippine media that “unidentified projectiles” hit the vessel while crossing Hormuz, sparking a fire, which the crew bravely fought.

An estimated 460,147 Filipino seafarers are deployed worldwide, making up roughly 17.94% of the global seafarer workforce, thus making their protection a major national concern.

The DMW has updated employment rules and contracts, strengthened emergency repatriation capacities and established a Seafarers’ Welfare Center offering training, healthcare and legal support.

The Strait of Hormuz and Black Sea crises are putting the safety of Filipino maritime workers directly in the global spotlight:

Strait of Hormuz: 5 dead and 1 missing. The death toll rose following projectile attacks on commercial ships like the Saudi-flagged oil tanker SIDR.

Northern Black Sea: 3 dead and 1 missing. These casualties occurred because of drone and missile strikes linked to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.