MARINA: 4 PH-flagged vessels are in Middle East danger zone

Four Philippine-flagged vessels are in the danger zone of the Middle East amid the ongoing tensions there, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) said on Wednesday. 

“We have actually 100 registered ships flying the Philippine flag and before na nagsimula po iyong kaguluhan sa Middle East, we have five Philippine-flagged ships na nandoon po. So, we have two tanker ships at tatlong bulk carriers na nandoon po sa danger zone ng conflict zone doon sa Middle East,” MARINA spokesperson Lui delos Santos said in an interview over “Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.”

(We actually have 100 registered ships flying the Philippine flag, and before the unrest in the Middle East began, we have five Philippine-flagged ships there. So, we have two tanker ships and three bulk carriers there in the danger zone of the conflict zone in the Middle East.) 

“So, 95 of our ships wala po doon sa danger zone. Lima po ang nandoon but when we track kung nasaan na iyong location ng ating limang barko na originally nandoon po sa conflict zone sa Middle East, iyong isa po actually ay nandoon na po sa New Zealand as of today,” he added.

(So, 95 of our ships are not in the danger zone. Five are there, but when we track the location of our five ships that were originally in the Middle East conflict zone, one of them is actually now in New Zealand as of today.) 

MARINA also clarified that the Philippine-flagged vessels in the so-called “danger zone” does not necessarily mean that they are in the Strait of Hormuz. 

“Ang mga barko po natin, wala naman po sila doon sa actual na Strait of Hormuz, kumbaga distributed po sila sa iba’t ibang mga ports within the Middle East. Kaya lang considered danger zone kasi hindi po sila makaalis and the best route for them to get out from that area is either umikot po sila or dadaan po sila sa Strait of Hormuz,” said Delos Santos. 

(Our ships are not actually in the Strait of Hormuz itself. They are distributed across various ports within the Middle East. However, it is considered a danger zone because they cannot leave, and the best route for them to get out of that area is either to go around or pass through the Strait of Hormuz.) 

Earlier, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Iran gave assurances that Philippine-flagged vessels, energy sources, and all Filipino seafarers would be allowed safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been affected by the Middle East conflict.

This was after the Philippines sought “non-hostile country” status from Iran and asked that Manila-bound ships be guaranteed safe passage through the vital strait, through which 20% of the world’s shipments of oil and liquefied natural gas pass. — JMA, GMA News