All 17 Filipino seafarers aboard the Liberia-flagged container ship MV Groton are safe following a missile attack by Houthi rebels in the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed on Friday.
In a statement, the DMW reported that the Filipino crew members were among the 19 sailors who escaped unharmed during the incident on August 3.
The MV Groton was en route to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when it was struck 60 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen.
According to the MV Groton’s operator, Cornbulk Shipmanagement Corporation, the vessel suffered minor damage but no leakage or water ingress was detected, the DMW said.
“(The MV Groton) has diverted its course and is now docked at the port of Djibouti for evaluation. All 19 crew members (17 of whom are Filipinos) are safe, and there were no reported injuries,” the DMW added.
The DMW assured that it will continue to closely monitor the situation and is prepared to provide support to the affected seafarers and their families.
Additionally, the agency reiterated its call for shipowners to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, emphasizing the strict enforcement of Department Order 3, which prohibits the deployment of Filipino seafarers to “High-risk and War-like zones.”
The DMW reminded Filipino seafarers of their right to refuse sailing in these dangerous areas and encouraged them to inform the department or submit their confirmation of refusal if needed.