Drone Strikes Kill Two Seafarers in Black Sea

Drone strikes in the Black Sea killed two Filipino seafarers aboard commercial vessels, the Department of Migrant Workers confirmed Monday. The first seafarer died in an attack on July 6. The second died on Sunday, July 19.

The department has spoken with the family of the first seafarer and is still reaching out to the second seafarer’s relatives. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency would assist the families and arrange repatriation of the remains.

Nine ships carrying a total of 139 Filipino seafarers have been attacked in recent weeks while transiting waters near Ukraine and Russia, primarily by drones.

One additional seafarer is missing and 12 others were injured. Four of the injured have been repatriated, while eight remain in treatment. The department and the International Bargaining Forum have designated the northern Black Sea a high-risk and warlike area because of the Russia-Ukraine war.

The department and the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration are coordinating with licensed manning agencies and shipowners on safety measures, medical care, and evacuation. “We shall continue, per directive of the President, to continue to closely monitor the developments in the area and consider the adoption of additional protective measures to safeguard Filipino seafarers deployed on vessels that are within the Black Sea,” Cacdac said.