DMW confirms M/V Tutor sinking

THE Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) yesterday confirmed the sinking of the missile-hit M/V Tutor but still refused to declare the missing Filipino crew member as “dead.”

“The vessel is lost and apparently sank. There is an oil slick that was spotted around the same projected location of the ship,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac in a briefing.

“The last time it was seen was June 17… On June 18, when a ship returned to the scene supposedly to commence the search and salvaging operations, she couldn’t be found,” he added.

Despite this, Cacdac said the DMW still considers the lone unaccounted Filipino crew member “missing.”

“As far as we are concerned, we have not seen the missing seafarer. We have not found him so we could not confirm his death,” he said adding discussions about the statement earlier of the US National Security Council declaring one Filipino seafarer dead are being handled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

“We cannot officially confirm his death or passing. He is missing,” he added.

Twenty-one other Filipino crewmen of MV/Tutor that was attacked by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea last week have returned to Manila.

In the meantime, Cacdac said, the DWM continues to provide support and assistance to the family of the missing seafarer.

On Wednesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the M/V Tutor was believed to have sunk.

Cacdac, meanwhile, said the DMW is looking at penalties for ship owners whose vessels had Filipino crew members and have been attacked in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The DMW has repeatedly asked ship owners to avoid the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which have been tagged as “high-risk areas” (HRAs) and “war-like zones” (WLZs).

“Majority of the ships had reportedly diverted. So, we are looking closely in terms of those who have not diverted,” said Cacdac.

He said they will also evaluate compliance with their call to deploy maritime security escorts and armed guards aboard, and with the Right to Refuse Sailing for Filipino crew members.

Implementation of the mandatory requirement to increase security arrangements and honoring the right to refuse sailing with repatriation at company’s cost