Third Filipino Seafarer Dies in Black Sea Attacks as Philippines Halts Deployments

The Philippines confirmed on August 1, 2026 that a third Filipino seafarer had died in drone and missile attacks on commercial vessels near Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

The death toll among Filipino crew members reached three. Fifteen others were injured and one remained missing. Of 236 Filipino seafarers confirmed to be aboard 17 affected vessels, 217 were reported safe.

Philippine Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the agency was working with shipowners and other government departments to arrange the repatriation of the fatalities and the injured. Cacdac visited the families of the three deceased personally, on the instruction of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

As of August 1, 89 affected Filipino seafarers had returned home. Five crew members from the Antigua-flagged bulk carrier Venturo arrived in Manila earlier that week; 13 more were expected that day.

The DMW halted new seafarer deployments to the Black Sea area and directed shipowners and manning agencies to move Filipino crew members in the zone to safer locations.

The International Bargaining Forum classifies the area near the Ukrainian ports as a higher-risk, warlike zone. The attacks have struck ships berthed at ports and in transit across the northern Black Sea.