17 Filipino crew of MV Groton safe after Houthi attack — DMW

All 17 Filipino seafarers on board the Liberia-flagged container vessel MV Groton are safe following the recent missile attack by Houthi rebels at the Gulf of Aden, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Friday.

In a statement, the DMW said the Filipino seafarers were among the 19 crew members who were uninjured in the incident last Aug. 3.

The MV Groton was bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia when it was attacked 60 nautical miles off Yemen.

Citing reports from the MV Groton's operator, Cornbulk Shipmanagement Corporation, the DMW said the vessel sustained minor damage, but no leakage or water ingress was observed.

"(The MV Groton) has diverted its course and is now docked at the port of Djibouti for evaluation. All 19 crew members (17 of whom are Filipinos) are safe and there were no reported injuries," the DMW said.

The DMW assured that it would continue to monitor the situation and remained ready to provide assistance to the affected seafarers and their families.

Meanwhile, the agency reiterated its call for shipowners to stay clear of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, stressing that it would strictly enforce Department Order 3 which bars the deployment of Filipino seafarers to "High-risk and War-like zones."

Filipino seafarers have the right to refuse sailing in such areas, the DMW said, adding that they may inform the department of their conditions or submit their confirmation of refusal to these dangerous waters. — VDV, GMA Integrated News