By Tracy Cabrera
Nearly 5,000 Filipino Seafarers Stranded as Strait of Hormuz Tensions Disrupt Global Shipping
PASAY CITY — A total of 4,862 Filipino seafarers are among more than 20,000 maritime workers stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed, as the Philippine government continues diplomatic efforts to secure safe passage for affected vessels.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Maria Theresa Lazaro disclosed the figures during a briefing before the Senate’s Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) ad hoc committee, citing ongoing disruptions in one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.
Based on United Nations estimates as of March 31, around 20,000 seafarers remain stranded aboard approximately 2,000 ships in the region amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. These vessels include oil and gas tankers as well as bulk carriers vital to global trade.
As of April 11, Lazaro said Filipino crew members were on board 463 ships unable to pass through the strait, a key route for oil supplies bound for the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.
The situation worsened after Iran ordered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to shipping traffic. Concerns of further escalation also arose following remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding a possible blockade, although U.S. officials later clarified that any restriction would apply only to vessels entering or exiting Iranian ports and not the strait itself.
Despite the tensions, the Philippine government has made headway through diplomatic channels. Manila earlier requested Iran to allow the passage of four Philippine-flagged vessels carrying mostly chemical cargo, with Iranian authorities responding positively.
Lazaro said the Iranian ambassador indicated that clearance for the vessels is expected soon, expressing optimism for improved conditions in the coming days as negotiations continue.
While no major breakthrough has been reached, the DFA noted that discussions remain ongoing with no indication of a breakdown in talks.
Shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined due to the crisis. From an average of over 3,000 vessels passing through the waterway each month prior to the conflict, open-source data show that fewer than 200 ships managed to transit the strait during the first week of April.
ia/xf
