‘Only job I know’: Philippine sailors return to sea despite wartime risks
Summary
Many Filipino sailors continue to work at sea despite dangers from ongoing conflicts, including war zones near the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea. Even with attacks on ships and risk to their safety, sailors rely on their jobs to support their families and have few alternatives.Key Facts
- Heavy monsoon rains in Manila did not stop long lines of applicants seeking maritime jobs.
- Gerald, a Filipino sailor, experienced missile attacks while stranded near the UAE port of Fujairah during recent US-Israel air strikes on Iran.
- Around 20,000 sailors on 1,500 ships were trapped in the Strait of Hormuz during the war in March; at least 17 sailors died in attacks since then.
- The Philippines provides more than 25% of the world’s seafarers, with about 2,500 Filipino sailors currently stuck in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Despite a partial ceasefire in June between the US and Iran, most Filipino sailors remained on ships instead of returning home.
- The Black Sea has seen an increase in attacks on merchant vessels amid the Russia-Ukraine war, killing over 20 sailors in July, including some Filipinos.
- Filipino sailors often view seafaring as their only job option, with the income helping them support their families and buy property.
- Seafarers have faced food shortages and danger while trapped in conflict zones but continue to work due to economic necessity.
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