DMW issues advisory on the urgent re-routing of ships with Filipino crew in warlike and high-risk areas, right to refuse sailing and the appointment of Seafarers’ Welfare and Crisis Management Officer

 

In response to recent armed attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden on ships manned by Filipino seafarers, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) issued Advisory No. 21, Series of 2025, dated 10 July 2025, reiterated its previous directives and issued the following:

 

Ship Rerouting and Compliance with Existing Orders

All licensed manning agencies (LMAs) and their principals/shipowners must reroute or divert their ships manned by Filipino seafarers away from ITF/IBF-designated warlike and high-risk zones, particularly the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
 
LMAs and foreign principals are reminded to strictly adhere to:

1. Department Order No. 01, Series of 2024 which refers to the Guidelines on the Observance of the ITF/IBF High-Risk and War-Like Zone and Implementation of the Right to Refuse Sailing of Seafarers
2. Department Order No. 02, Series of 2024 which refers to the Prohibition for Filipino Seafarers On-Board Passenger/Cruise Ships to Sail in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden
3. Department Order No. 03, Series of 2024 which refers to Prohibition Against Deployment of Filipino Seafarers On-Board Ships Which Traversed Through the ITF/IBF Designated Warlike and High Risk Zones and Have Been Attacked and
4. DMW Advisory No. 16, Series of 2025 on the Amended List of IBF Warlike and high-Risk Areas.

 

Right to Refuse Sailing and Repatriation

LMAs and principals must honor the right of Filipino seafarers to refuse sailing in the warlike and high-risk areas.  Immediate and safe repatriation must be arranged for those invoking this right.

 

Mandatory Reporting

LMAs and principals must report to the Seabased Accreditation Bureau of the DMW (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) the names of principals/employers who have diverted their ships to safer routes, names of Filipino seafarers who refused to sail and names of Filipino seafarers who voluntarily continued with the voyage after being informed of the risks and their rights.

 

Prohibitation on Deployment to Prevoiusly Attacked Ships

LMAs and principals are strictly prohibited from deploying Filipino seafarers to any ship that:

1. was previously subjected to an attack
2. is traversing or intends to traverse the same ITF/IBF designated warlike and high-risk zones
3. has been targeted by Houthi rebel forces and/or other armed groups.

This prohibition applies regardless of whether the incident occurred in the past, is ongoing or is foreseeable in the designated zones.

 

Appointment of Seafarers' Welfare and Crisis Management Officer (SWACO)

All LMAs must appoint a Seafarers' Welfare and Crisis Management Officer (SWACO)  to: coordinate with the proper authorities during maritime crises, monitor critical incidents and ensure timely corrective measures and accurate reporting to the DMW, assist in the conduct of incident investigations, ensure compliance with maritime safety and security regulations and company protocols and lead the safety and crisis-awareness training programs of seafarers.
 
The credential of the appointed SWACO must be submitted to the Seabased Accreditation Bureau  and Licensing Regulation Bureau of the DMW within 5 days or up to 15 July 2025.
 
We recommend strict compliance with the above directives as violations may result in the suspension or cancellation of licenses and other penalties under the law.


For full advisory, click on link below. 
DMW Advisory No. 21 Series of 2025 - High risk/war risk area

 

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