Two Filipino Seafarers Killed in Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attack

Two Filipino Seafarers Killed in Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attack

Saudi shipping company Bahri confirms loss of two crew members as Philippines government says 14 other Filipino seafarers were unharmed and are being repatriated; attacks come amid escalating US-Iran tensions.

Saudi Arabia’s national shipping company, Bahri, has confirmed that two Filipino seafarers were killed in a security incident involving its vessel, SIDR, while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, August 31, 2026. The company said the incident occurred at approximately 11:40 pm local time (19:40 GMT). The Philippines Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed the deaths and provided additional details. Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said the vessel was hit by unidentified projectiles as it was about to cross the strait, sparking a fire that the crew managed to contain. There were 16 Filipino seafarers on board the SIDR at the time of the attack. The 14 surviving crew members have been brought ashore in Oman, and arrangements are being made to repatriate all 16, including the remains of the two who were killed.

According to shipping intelligence firms Marisks and Kpler, two supertankers carrying Saudi crude were struck by unknown projectiles within minutes of each other while transiting outbound through the Strait of Hormuz late on Monday. The Saudi Arabian-flagged SIDR was struck by “unknown projectiles” at approximately 19:52 UTC about 16 nautical miles (30km) northeast of Khasab, Oman. Minutes later, the Liberian-flagged Senegal Prosperity was reportedly struck by three unknown projectiles approximately 17 nautical miles east of Khasab; all crew aboard that vessel were reported safe. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency also reported that a tanker had been struck by three unidentified projectiles while outbound through the Strait of Hormuz, in what appeared to be the same incident. Marisks described the near-simultaneous incidents as “a further escalation in the threat environment within the Omani corridor.”

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The attack comes amid rapidly escalating tensions between the United States and Iran over the strategic waterway. Saudi Arabia condemned what it described as “Iran’s targeting of the Saudi tanker” and stressed the need to “respect the security and safety of international navigation.” However, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed that two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while transiting an “illegal route” through the Strait of Hormuz. The US military denied Iran’s claim, with US Central Command stating: “No ships have hit mines in the Strait of Hormuz. This is yet another IRGC attempt to intimidate regional commercial shipping through disinformation.”

Secretary Cacdac said the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office in Oman are coordinating with Omani authorities for the immediate repatriation of the surviving crew. He said he would make personal visits to the families of the two deceased seafarers within 48 hours. The DMW remains on red alert as the Strait of Hormuz continues to be considered a high-risk, war-like zone. Cacdac said 31 ships carrying 421 seafarers have been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz since February 28, 2026. Of these, 406 seafarers were unharmed, 10 were injured but have recovered, three died and one remains officially missing.

The attack on the SIDR is not an isolated incident. About a month earlier, another Bahri vessel, the Wedyan supertanker, was hit near the strait while sailing close to Oman’s coast. Additionally, two other Bahri vessels, AMZAN and MASA, were attacked in the Red Sea after the Iran-backed Yemen’s Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia. Bahri extended its condolences to the families, loved ones, and colleagues of the two seafarers and said it was providing full support to those affected. The company said it remained in continuous contact with the vessel and was coordinating closely with relevant authorities and maritime industry stakeholders while monitoring developments. Bahri stressed that the safety and well-being of its personnel remained its highest priority.