Philippines assists families of seafarers killed in maritime security incidents

The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) is providing assistance to families following two separate maritime security incidents involving Filipino seafarers.

In Dubai, a Filipino seafarer died during a security incident involving the Gibraltar-flagged M/V Hercules Star at the Dubai Delta Anchorage on September 9, 2026. The remaining eight Filipino crew members on the 13-member vessel are safe and being accommodated at a local hotel while authorities coordinate their repatriation.

In a separate incident, two Filipino crew members died on August 31 when the crude tanker MT SIDR was struck by projectiles and caught fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel is operated by Saudi Arabia’s Bahri shipping line. The DMW is currently investigating the manning agency involved, specifically examining claims that one crew member had invoked a ‘refuse to sail’ right due to the vessel's route through the high-risk waterway.

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) has met the remains of the MT SIDR crew in the Philippines to facilitate dignified transfers to their families in Laguna and Cebu.