‘Only job I know’: Philippine sailors return to sea despite wartime risks
Filipino seafarers continue to seek employment on international cargo vessels despite the escalating dangers of working in conflict zones like the Strait of Hormuz and the Black Sea. Many sailors report facing missile threats and crossfire while performing their duties, yet economic necessity drives them to return to these high-risk waters.
Why it matters
It highlights the human cost of global supply chain vulnerabilities and the extreme risks faced by essential workers in the maritime industry during geopolitical conflicts.
Despite risks in the Strait of Hormuz and Black Sea, seafarers from the Philippines are still competing for jobs.
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Manila, Philippines – Monsoon rains may have forced schools to shut down and suspended government services in the Philippine capital last week, but applicants at shipping companies and employment agencies still formed long lines that snaked around street corners.
The rain was the least of their worries. They were taking the first step on a journey that would take them to increasingly treacherous waters – and they say they are fully aware of the risks.
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