Manila: The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Tuesday instructed all Philippine-registered ships operating in international waters to implement heightened security measures due to the escalating conflict in the Middle East.
According to Philippines News Agency, MARINA issued Advisory No. 2026-08, mandating all Philippine-flagged ships to intensify monitoring and reporting measures. The advisory urged shipowners, operators, managers, and manning agencies to strictly observe precautionary measures to ensure the safety and welfare of Filipino seafarers and the security of vessels in or transiting affected areas.
The advisory highlighted the importance of enhancing situational awareness by monitoring maritime security advisories and warnings from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), and relevant flag-state authorities. Ships were instructed to maintain a close, continuous watch on their Automatic Identification System (AIS) and Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) systems at all times.
MARINA called on ships to report any incidents, military activities, or suspicious approaches to their ship to MARINA through the Overseas Shipping Service. To ensure onboard security, ships were required to implement heightened security protocols in line with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, conduct security briefings for all crew members, and review and activate the appropriate ship security plan.
For the welfare and safety of crew members, ships were ordered to properly account for all Filipino seafarers. In cases where seafarers are distressed or require urgent assistance ashore in affected countries, they are instructed to immediately contact the nearest Philippine Embassy or Consulate and the Department of Migrant Workers.
The advisory comes as a response to the recent military actions in the region, where on Sunday, Israel and the United States launched coordinated military strikes against Iran. In retaliation, Iran launched missiles and drones against Israel and US bases in the Middle East, with the conflict already resulting in hundreds of deaths, including a Filipino caregiver in Israel.
