27 Pinoy seafarers safe from latest Houthi attack – DMW

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said all 27 Filipino crewmembers of the MV Transworld Navigator are safe and accounted for following the recent attack made on the vessel by Houthi rebels.

The DMW said it has received reports on the status of the Filipino seafarers on the Transworld Navigator.

“It’s an all-Filipino crew and they are now out of the high risk area. They are all safe now,” Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Cacdac said yesterday in a radio interview.

He added, “As far as we know, nobody got injured. Our 27 crewmembers on board are safe.”

The DMW chief said the vessel wasn’t badly damaged in the incident as the Transworld Navigator is now en route to a safe port. “The ship was not immobilized by the attack. It is still able to sail,” added Cacdac.

He also said that the Filipino seafarers would most probably be seeking repatriation.

“Most likely, once they reach a safe port, they will be repatriated. Since they experienced an attack, they may need to be with their respective families,” the DMW chief said.

He added that the families of the Transworld Navigator crew have already been informed of the situation.

The Transworld Navigator was struck and attacked by a Houthi drone over the weekend while sailing in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.