Philippines declares Gulf of Aden a hazard Zone
Updated
The Philippine government has declared the Gulf of Aden in Somalia a hazard zone, in a pre-emptive measure for Filipino sailors who have become vulnerable to pirate attacks in the area.
Declaring the Gulf of Aden a hazard zone would give Filipino sailors two options: they could get off the ship before it crosses the Gulf and pay for their repatriation, or stay on the vessel and increase their hazard pay.
Officials say Filipino seafarers have become most vulnerable to pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden as the Philippines supplies one-third or roughly two hundred and seventy thousand of the world's shipping manpower.
Eighty two Filipinos are currently in the hands of Somali pirates from several hijackings since July.
But a local sailors group, the United Filipino Seafarers, says the move would discourage foreign ship owners from hiring Filipinos, and could be bad for the Philippine economy.
