DMW: 2023 banner year for seafarer deployment

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said 2023 was a banner year for the deployment of Filipino seafarers, with an all-time high deployment record of 578,626.

Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac made the announcement during The Manila Times maritime forum, «Shipping, logistics and crewing for nation building,» on June 14.

Data from the DMW's Management Information and Technology Service revealed that deployment rose to 167 percent in 2024 compared to 2020, with only 217,223 deployments.

The 2023 data includes the top 10 types of vessels Filipino seafarers are employed, with passenger or cruise liners on top of the list. FILE PHOTO

In 2019, 507,730 seafarers were deployed.

Most of those deployed from 2019 to 2023 were ratings, particularly able-bodied (AB) seamen.

Of the 578,626 Filipino seafarers sent for shipboard duty in 2023, 207,114 were ratings, 122,927 were officers, and 248,534 were non-marine or served as hospitality or food and beverage staff for cruise liners.

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For marine officers, the top position with the most number of deployments in 2023 was AB seamen at 20,989, followed by ordinary seamen at 10,832, oiler at 9,430, bosun at 5,391, second mate at 4,827, chief cook at 4,689, third engineer at 4296, third mate at 4,006, and messman at 4,296.

The data also included the top 10 types of vessels on which Filipino seafarers were employed, with passenger or cruise liners at the top of the list. They were followed by bulk carriers, container vessels, oil and product tankers, chemical tankers, general cargo ships, gas tankers, car carriers, and supply vessels.

The majority of these vessels were registered in the flag states of Bahamas, Panama, Libera, Marshall Islands and Malta.