April 2 ------ Local manning agencies are now required to implement the right to refuse sailing of the Filipino seafarers they would deploy after the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has issued an order that provided guidelines in support of the declaration of Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as “high-risk areas” (HRAs) and “war-like zones” (WLZs).
In the order signed by DMW officer-in-charge Undersecretary Hans Leo Cacdac, local manning agencies are also required to thoroughly explain to the seafarers the risk that comes with sailing at the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden following the series of attacks by Houthi rebels in the areas, the recent was the missile attack that left two Filipino seamen dead.
The explanation, he said, comes with mandatory Anti-Piracy Awareness Training for Seafarers. Local manning agencies are also required to inform seafarers of the scheduled passage of the ship to the identified areas/zones and their rights and entitlements should they consent to continue with their voyage, as well as ensure the immediate and safe repatriation of seafarers who will invoke their right to refuse sailing at the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The DMW also made sure that there will no discrimination on seafarers who would choose to invoke the right to refuse sailing to their present and future employment. Local manning agencies, according to the DMW order, were also mandated to provide seafarers with the Confirmation of Refusal to Traverse the Red Sea, or Gulf of Aden, and/or to Other War-Like and High-Risk Zone to formalize their intent not to join the voyage in the two areas.
The DMW earlier welcomed the decision of the International Bargaining Forum’s (IBF) to designate the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as a “war-like zone” for seafarers. “This critical decision recognizes the grave dangers faced by our Filipino seafarers and other nationalities traversing these high-risk sea lanes. The ‘war-like zone' designation underscores the need for intensified measures to protect our seafarers and ensure their safety,” said Cacdac. He explained that the designation of an area or region as a “war-like zone” signifies that seafarers operating in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden are exposed to exceptional dangers similar to those seen during armed conflict as stipulated in the 2006 Maritime Labor Convention (MLC).
Cacdac said the decision would pave the way for shipping agencies and principals to undertake stricter safety measures such as diversion of routes to avoid the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, training seafarers on security risks and emergency protocols; equipping vessels with additional security measures such as citadels, personal protective equipment, and detailing armed personnel on board as well as developing contingency plans for violent incidents.
Source: mb.com.ph
Opmerkingen