All 15 Pinoy crew of vessel in drone attack safe

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday reported that all 15 Filipino crew members of the marine vessel Al Jasrah are safe after it became the subject of a drone attack in the Red Sea last Friday.

Al Jasrah, a container ship, was struck by missiles in a drone attack orchestrated by Yemeni Houthi rebels as it was crossing the Bab al Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

In a statement, the DMW said it was informed by the ship’s manning agency and its shipping company that all members of the crew, including 15 Filipino seafarers, are safe and accounted for.

DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac issued instructions to the department’s Sea-Based Operations Units to continuously monitor the situation and work closely with the vessel’s manning and shipping company in assuring the safety of the Filipino seafarers.

Cacdac also ordered the manning agency to meet with the families and relatives of the crew members and the DMW to provide regular updates as to the seafarers’ conditions and safety.