Iran attacked oil tanker in Hormuz, killing 2 Filipino sailors, Saudi Arabia says

Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest crude exporter, said on Wednesday, September 2, that an Iranian attack on an oil tanker owned by its national shipping company had killed two Filipino seafarers. Sidr, owned by Bahri, was one of two supertankers carrying Saudi oil reported to have been hit late on Monday while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has threatened tankers attempting to sail through the narrow waterway without authorisation, impeding energy exports from neighboring oil-rich Gulf countries. About one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade used to pass through the Strait of Hormuz before the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28. Bahri said the seafarers were killed in a security incident involving Sidr at 23:40 local time (2040 GMT) on Monday. “The kingdom stressed the necessity of halting escalations, and respecting international maritime safety and the security of global energy supplies,” the Saudi foreign ministry said. “Bahri remains in continuous contact with the vessel and is coordinating closely with the relevant authorities and maritime industry stakeholders, while continuing to closely monitor developments,” the company said in a statement. In July, another Bahri vessel, the Wedyan supertanker, was hit while passing through the strait close to Oman’s coast. Two other Bahri vessels, Masa and Amzan, were attacked in the Red Sea in July and August after the Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. DMW reiterates Filipino seafarers’ right to refuse high-risk voyage In Manila, the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers and other concerned government agencies and diplomatic offices “are closely coordinating with the vessel’s principal, the licensed manning agency, and relevant authorities to ensure the earliest possible repatriation of the Filipino crew while providing all necessary medical, welfare, and other assistance.” In a statement late Wednesday night, the DMW extended its condolences to the families of the two Filipino seafarers whose identities are being withheld for the moment, and assured their families that the government is working on the repatriation of the remains of their loved ones. The DMW also assured the families of the deceased of immediate assistance and the benefits, compensation, insurance proceeds, and other benefits due to them under their employment contracts and applicable Philippine and international maritime regulations. The DMW also reiterated that Filipino seafarers have the right to refuse sailing in high-risk maritime areas, including the Strait of Hormuz, and reminded reminded shipowners and licensed manning agencies to respect this. “We continue to remind shipowners to be mindful of the safety of our seafarers on board and to keep them out of harm’s way,” DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said in a statement late Wednesday night. “We are disallowing deployment to the extent that a seafarer exercises the right to refuse to sail. That right must be respected,” he added. The DMW also reminded shipowners to comply with requirements of “conducting risk assessments, implementing appropriate security measures, considering vessel escorts where necessary” as well as complying with reporting requirements prior to “voyages through areas affected by conflict or heightened security risks.” Cacdac said the DMW will include a review of whether proper safeguards were observed in its investigation of the SIDR incident. “He stressed that Filipino seafarers must be given an informed choice before undertaking voyages through dangerous waters,” the DMW said. – Rappler.com