‘I assumed I used to be going to die’

(FILES) This handout image launched by Yemen’s Huthi Ansarullah Media Centre on July 8, 2025 exhibits smoke plumes rising from reported explosions on the Liberia-flagged bulk provider Magic Seas, which was attacked by Houthi-affiliated fighters at sea. (Picture by ANSARULLAH MEDIA CENTRE / AFP) /

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino seafarer Cocoy was off-duty and resting in his cabin when the captain’s voice boomed over the intercom of the cargo ship: “We’re beneath assault”.

The 38-year-old realized what seemed like a “knock” from contained in the vessel was gunfire being exchanged by ship safety and Houthi rebels swarming the ship in small boats.

The July 6 assault on the Greek-owned Magic Seas broke a months-long lull in assaults by Yemen’s H0uthi rebels on Crimson Sea transport, which started after the beginning of the Gaza struggle in October 2023.

READ: DMW: 2 ships with 38 Filipino seafarers attacked close to Yemen

Crew members scrambled to succeed in the “muster station” on the middle of the ship, thought of the most secure place ought to a projectile strike the vessel.

“There was panic, however we knew we needed to transfer. It’s like we have been on autopilot,” stated Cocoy, who requested to be referred to by his nickname as he undergoes a debriefing.

“(The crew) have been in a daze, however they have been all dashing to do their assigned jobs for our security protocol… possibly I seemed dazed too,” he informed AFP.

“There have been speedboats from the correct, left and again of our ship,” he stated, relaying what the ship’s safety group had informed him.

“There was additionally an even bigger boat with round 15 crew who have been making an attempt to board our ship, however fortunately, our armed guards have been capable of cease them.”

READ: 8 Filipino seafarers of ill-fated MV Eternity C again in Manila

Of the 22 aboard the ship, 17 have been Filipino .

The group huddled contained in the muster station for practically 5 hours because the ship’s three armed Sri Lankan safety guards tried to stave off the assault.

“I misplaced rely of what number of hits we took,” he informed AFP of Houthi projectiles.

A H0uthi spokesman would later declare that 5 ballistic and cruise missiles and three drones had been employed within the assault.

One would breach the hull.

“The flooding had began so we determined to desert the ship,” Cocoy stated. “We deployed our lifeboat, all 22 of us, and left our fundamental vessel.”

This body seize taken from handout video footage shot on July 16, 2025 by the Philippine Division of Migrant Employees and acquired on July 17, exhibits officers welcoming the seafarers of Liberian-flagged bulk provider MV Eternity C as they arrive in Manila. (Picture by Handout / Philippine Division of Migrant Employees / AFP) /

Filipino sailors make up as a lot as 30 p.c of the world’s industrial transport power. The practically $7 billion they despatched dwelling in 2023 accounted for a few fifth of remittances despatched to the archipelago nation.

Whereas a seafarer for greater than 15 years, it was Cocoy’s first passage via the Crimson Sea, and what he referred to as a case of “actually dangerous timing”.

“Through the gunfight, the faces of my spouse and youngster flashed earlier than my eyes. I saved pondering… will they survive with out me?” he stated.

“I assumed I used to be going to die.”

After abandoning ship, Cocoy and his shipmates spent three hours floating within the Crimson Sea earlier than being picked up by a Panama-flagged container ship.

“They have been the longest hours of my life,” he stated.

The Magic Seas was now not inside their sight because it sank beneath the waves.

‘We have been simply fortunate’

A day after Cocoy’s ordeal, one other vessel crewed largely by Filipino sailors, the Eternity C, was attacked and sunk.

Ten of these aboard have been rescued. One other 15 are lifeless or lacking.

It was the deadliest such assault since three folks have been killed in a missile assault on one other ship in March final 12 months.

On Wednesday night time, eight Filipinos rescued from the Eternity C landed at Manila’s worldwide airport.

The Iran-backed Houthis stated final week that they had “rescued” an unspecified variety of the Eternity C’s crew and brought them to a secure location, prompting fees of kidnapping by the US authorities.

Maritime information journal Lloyd’s Checklist reported six Filipino seafarers as “believed taken hostage”.

The Philippine authorities has thus far provided no details about the potential for both hostages or negotiations.

“I really feel terrified for the (lacking) Eternity C crew,” Cocoy informed AFP.

“We have been simply fortunate, as a result of all of us survived… I pray that a lot of their crew can nonetheless be situated alive.”

Cocoy, who’s tormented by nightmares of the assault, stated he’s not sure if he’ll return to the ocean.

“What occurred to us was not regular,” he stated, urging shipowners to seek out routes that keep away from the Crimson Sea.

“It’s one thing that nobody ought to ever expertise.” /dl