On 29 September, a Filipino seafarer died after an attack on the MV Minervagracht, operated by Netherlands-based shipping firm Spliethoff, which was struck by a missile while transiting a well-known high-risk area.

The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) alleges that the seafarer was not informed of his right to disembark before entering the high-risk zone. The government stated that the Maritime Labour Convention grants seafarers the right to be repatriated if “the ship is bound for a war zone to which the seafarer does not consent to go”. The International Bargaining Forum under the Convention has recognised the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden as “warlike operations areas” where this right applies.

In addition, Philippine regulations require ship operators to report to the DMW any planned transit through high-risk or warlike zones, including a complete list of Filipino seafarers on board and an explanation of why the route cannot be avoided.

Authorities allege that the Filipino crew members aboard the Minervagracht were not informed of their right to refuse the voyage, nor did the vessel owner report the planned transit to the DMW.

In October 2025, the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre contacted Spliethoff to invite the company to respond to the allegations. Its response can be read in full below.

Later in October, News 5 reported that the Filipino government's Department of Migrant Workers is investigating the manning agency, as the seafarers allege the agency breached the department's order prohibiting deploying Filipino seafarers on vessels passing through the high-risk maritime zone.