Some PH-flagged vessels already in Strait of Hormuz —DOE

Some Philippine-flagged ships have already entered the Strait of Hormuz, following an agreement between the Philippines and Iran for passage through the strategic waterway, Energy Secretary Sharon Garin said Tuesday.

However, she said in an online press conference, these vessels are not yet carrying oil but other products such as petrochemicals.

“What is important about the call of [Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro] with her Iranian counterpart is that hindi lang 'yung tankers o vessels natin ang maki-clear, pati po yung products that are not in Philippine vessels but destined for the Philippines, and also po yung safe passage ng ating mga workers, mga crew ng mga vessels na ito,” Garin said.

(What is important about the call between Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro with her Iranian counterpart is that not only will our tankers and vessels be cleared, but also the products that are not on Philippine vessels but are destined for the Philippines; and also the safe passage of our workers, the crew on these vessels.)

The Strait of Hormuz is the narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the broader Arabian Sea. Previously open to international passage through which a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas typically passed, the Strait has been closed by Iran to nearly all ships since the US and Israel's attacks on the Islamic republic.

Thousands of Filipino seafarers remain stranded aboard vessels in the Persian Gulf and the Strait. This number does not yet include Filipinos working in offshore facilities in the region.

“So very narrow 'yan… Marami rin ditong barko sa northern part 'yan yung mga installations [It's very narrow...there are also a lot of vessels in the norther part where the (Iranian) installations are],” said maritime expert Captain Edgardo V. Flores.

A former ship captain, Flores recalled being stranded in the same area during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s. He raised concerns about how long crews can sustain their supplies amid the ongoing conflict.

“[T]hey may run out of supplies, so what will happen to them? Who will provide them?” he said.

The International Seafarers Action Center also warned that the crisis is affecting not only stranded crews but also employment opportunities and income for seafarers—even those deployed on other routes.

“ Kasi mas kumakaunti ang voyage, kumakaunti ang trabaho...At yung mga gusto sanang bumaba... Natatakot sila sa blacklisting na baka hindi na sila pabalikin, kasi ang seafarers sa Pilipinas ay contractual,” said ISAC president Edwin Dela Cruz.

(When there are fewer voyages, there are fewer jobs...And those who would like to disembark are afraid of getting blacklisted so that they wouldn't be able to come back, because seafarers in the Philippines are contractual.) 

Some Filipino seafarers who have been seeking new assignments for months have yet to find work.

“Dahil sa giyera at ang biyahe kuwan na lang, wala na halos sa Europe, wala nang Middle East, puro US na lang ang biyahe. Ang problema, na-deport na-revoke visa namin sa US 14 years so walang magagawa,” said former seaman Gerald Villanueva.

(Because of the war there are hardly any voyages now to Europe, none to the Middle East, just mostly to the US. The problem is we might get deported or have our visas revoked, there's nothing we can do.)

Others are now considering alternative sources of income while waiting for the situation to improve.

“Baka nga maghahanap muna akong ibang mapagkakakitaan dito sa Pilipinas kasi kung sakaling tumagal meron tayong pang-survive sa pamilya natin,” said seafarer Renel Go.

(I might look for another means of income here in the Philippines in case the war goes on longer, so our family can have an income to subsist on.)

The Department of Migrant Workers earlier said it is doing everything it can to assist Filipino crewmembers affected by the war. — BM, GMA News