by Manal Barakat, SeaNewsEditor

In the aftermath of the recent casualties among Filipino seafarers, the Philippines has issued a directive to licensed crewing agencies to reroute vessels with Filipino seafarers away from the Bab el Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.

The recent attack by Houthi rebels on the commercial dry bulk ship Eternity C, which was targeted in the Red Sea, impacted 21 Filipino crewmembers and one Russian.

Only eight Filipino seafarers have been located so far.

The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) reiterated its call for shipowners and manning agencies to avoid 'high-risk, war-like' areas, particularly the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Last week, Iran-backed Houthis also attacked the Greek bulker vessel Magic Seas, flagged under Liberia, 51 nautical miles southwest of Al Hudaydah in Yemen.

The Philippines, which supplies up to 35% of the world's seafarers, emphasised the right of Filipino seafarers to refuse to sail in these dangerous areas.

The DMW's directive aims to ensure the safety of Filipino seafarers, who comprise a significant portion of the global maritime workforce.

Shipping Telegraph cited the Philippines' Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac, saying, “We asked shipowners carrying Filipino seafarers to please divert your voyagers."

"It is not enough to just say, we are taking the necessary safety precautions; the best way to spare our seafarers is to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” Cacdac added.