3 Filipino seafarers killed, 5 rescued after Houthi attack on ship in Red Sea

ATHENS/LONDON. Three Filipino seafarers have been confirmed dead and five others rescued following the attack on the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier MV Eternity C by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in the Red Sea on July 8, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced on July 10.

The Eternity C, carrying 22 crew members, 21 Filipinos and one Russian, was struck by a combination of sea drones, fast-moving skiffs, and rocket-propelled grenades near the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. The vessel was later confirmed to have sunk.

In a press briefing, Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the crew was forced to abandon the ship. “Five were rescued from the water, and we are continuing the search for the rest,” he stated. The DMW withheld the current location of the rescued individuals for security reasons but assured that assistance is being extended to their families.

On July 10, DMW Undersecretary Bernard Olalia confirmed the deaths of three Filipino crew members. Their families have been notified, and support measures are being coordinated, Cacdac said.

Houthi rebels also claimed responsibility for a separate attack on July 6 targeting the MV Magic Seas, another Liberian-flagged vessel with 22 crew members, including 17 Filipinos. All crew members were safely rescued by the passing container ship Safeen Prism, according to the DMW and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which coordinated with UK Maritime Trade Operations and other agencies, emphasized its commitment to the safety of international maritime navigation and humanitarian protection.

Since November 2023, Houthi forces have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, citing support for Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.

In light of the recurring threats, the DMW has reiterated its absolute prohibition on the deployment of Filipino seafarers aboard ships transiting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

“The risk has returned as recurrent,” Cacdac warned. “Please do not board Filipino seafarers on ships passing through these high-risk areas.”

The department reminded manning agencies and shipowners of Department Order No. 1, Series of 2024, which mandates full risk disclosure and reporting before entering the Red Sea. Failure to comply, Cacdac warned, will result in penalties and possible legal action.

Preliminary findings show that Eternity C violated these deployment rules by making two transits across the Red Sea, once from Egypt to Somalia and again to Jeddah. “At least two counts of violations,” Cacdac said. The DMW has since suspended the vessel’s principal and the manning agency pending a full investigation.

“The Department will not hesitate to act against those who endanger the lives of our seafarers,” Cacdac said, adding that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered a people-first approach, ensuring every affected Filipino is accounted for and their families supported.

The attacks on Eternity C and Magic Seas mark the deadliest incidents involving Filipino seafarers since the resurgence of maritime hostilities in the Red Sea. As the Philippines remains one of the world’s largest providers of maritime labor, thousands of Filipino crew members remain vulnerable in high-risk zones.

Rescue operations for the Eternity C are still ongoing. Sixteen Filipino crew members remain missing, and the Philippine government continues to coordinate efforts to locate and rescue survivors.

The DMW has urged global shipping companies to act responsibly and reroute vessels away from volatile maritime corridors to protect the lives of seafarers.ip Eternity C in the Red Sea, as search operations continue for 10 others still missing, according to the vessel’s operator, Cosmoship Management.

Three additional crew members and one security guard were pulled from the water on Thursday, nearly 48 hours after the crew abandoned ship during a second wave of attacks. This brings the total number of rescued individuals to ten, including eight Filipino crew members, one Indian, and one Greek security guard.

The Eternity C, a Greek-operated bulk carrier sailing under the Liberian flag, was initially hit on Monday by sea drones and rocket-propelled grenades launched from Houthi speedboats. A second attack followed on Tuesday morning, forcing the crew to jump into the sea. The vessel ultimately sank on Wednesday.

According to Cosmoship, 22 crew members and three security personnel were aboard. Ten remain unaccounted for, including one guard. One crew member is presumed dead, while four others have not been seen since the attacks.

If confirmed, these would mark the first fatalities in the area since June 2024. Maritime security sources believe the Iran-aligned Houthi militants are holding six of the missing crew members.

On Wednesday, a Houthi military spokesperson claimed the Yemeni navy had rescued some of the crew and transported them to a safe location. However, the U.S. Mission to Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping and demanded the “immediate, unconditional safe release” of the detained personnel.

“We understand that the Houthis have picked up some people, and we are working through multiple channels as a matter of priority to verify this information,” Cosmoship said.

The Eternity C had recently delivered humanitarian cargo for the UN World Food Programme to Berbera, Somalia, and was en route in ballast condition to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to refuel when the attacks occurred.

The incident follows the sinking of another Greek-operated vessel, Magic Seas, earlier this week, also in the Red Sea. Both ships flew Liberian flags and had connections to Israeli ports over the past year, according to shipping data.

The recent attacks mark a sharp escalation in Houthi operations in the region, disrupting a months-long period of relative calm along the Yemeni coast, a crucial corridor for global oil and cargo shipments.

Yemen’s Houthi leader, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, reaffirmed the group’s ongoing ban on vessels connected to Israel from passing through the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea. “It was never stopped or cancelled, and it is a valid decision,” he said in a televised speech Thursday.

The UK-based Seafarers’ Charity condemned the attacks, stating, “These are blameless victims who were simply doing their job. Seafarers should be able to work safely at sea. Instead, they are being unfairly forced into the firing line.”

Following the attacks, the cost of insuring voyages through the Red Sea has more than doubled, with some insurers temporarily halting coverage, industry sources said. Daily ship traffic through the Bab al-Mandab strait dropped to 32 vessels on July 9, down from 43 on July 1, according to Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

Some ships have begun broadcasting messages clarifying that they carry Chinese crew, are operated by Chinese management, or have no links to Israel, as seen in MarineTraffic data