Filipino Seafarer Killed In Explosion Aboard Oil Tanker In Persian Gulf
A Filipino seafarer was killed in an explosion aboard the oil tanker MT Velos Sapphire in the Persian Gulf on November 5, 2026, the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.
The Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was sailing unladen towards Bahrain when the blast occurred in the early hours of the day. The other 21 Filipino crew members on board were reported unharmed.
Velos Tankers, the Greek firm managing the ship, said in a statement that the seafarer had first been reported missing and was later found fatally injured on board. The remaining crew put out the fire caused by the explosion, and no pollution was reported, it added.
The company said that the blast was likely caused by an unidentified projectile that struck the vessel’s port quarter, which is the rear left side of a ship. Reuters reported that it was believed to be a missile attack.
The DMW said that initial reports suggested a possible drone attack; however, the cause of the explosion remains unverified.
Migrant Workers Secretary said that the department would provide all the support and guidance the bereaved family needs. The DMW has withheld the seafarer’s name, while the manning agency has informed the family and the shipowner has conveyed its condolences.
The incident comes amid a series of attacks on merchant ships in and around the Gulf since the Iran war began on February 28.
The vessel has been brought to Bahrain’s Khalifa Bin Salman Port for an investigation, while the damage to her hull is still being assessed.
References: Manila Times/AFP, MarineLink/Reuters (Velos Tankers statement), The Hindu/AFP.
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