By Marita Moaje
MANILA – Fourteen Filipino seafarers who were aboard the crude oil tanker MT SIDR when it was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz have safely arrived in the country Tuesday evening.
Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, along with Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) chief Patricia Yvonne Caunan, welcomed the repatriated seafarers from Dubai upon their arrival at Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3.
“Nasa mabuti silang kalagayan. Sila ay unharmed, relatively unharmed at ligtas at ngayon ay handa nang makataupad at makapiling ang kanilang mga pamilya (They are in good condition. They are unharmed, relatively unharmed, and safe, and are now ready to reunite and be with their families),” Cacdac said.
“Abot-abot ang ating pasasalamat sa UAE (United Arab Emirates) and Omani authorities at mula sa ating Pangulo ang mensahe ng pasasalamat at pakikisa sa ating tripulanting may pinagdaanang hamon sa gitna ng hidwaan, sa gitna ng pag-atake ng kanilang barko (Our deepest gratitude goes to the UAE and Omani authorities, and from our President, a message of thanks and solidarity to our crew members who faced challenges amidst the conflict, amidst the attack on their ship),” Cacdac said.
Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker MT SIDR was hit by unidentified projectiles while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Aug 31. The ship was carrying 16 Filipino seafarers. Two were killed.
“ We also express our solidarity and condolences to their two colleagues who passed away. Their repatriation is being arranged in the coming days, and our solidarity and condolences to the families of the two deceased crew members; the instruction of the President is to take care of the families,” Cacdac, speaking in Pilipino, added.
He said the seafarers were evacuated from the vessel’s coastline area in Al Khasab, Oman, following the attack, and were flown out through Dubai, UAE.
The 14 seafarers are staying in hotel accommodations arranged by their manning agency, with agency representatives on hand to assist them.
Cacdac said the DMW and the OWWA will provide psychosocial counseling, while the seafarers will also undergo medical checkups through their manning agency.
Caunan said the immediate priority was to ensure that the 14 seafarers could safely return to their families and have access to assistance should they need medical or psychological support.
The DMW is separately investigating the circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether existing rules on the deployment of Filipino seafarers to high-risk areas were followed.
The DMW is also coordinating the repatriation of around 82 Filipino seafarers aboard four vessels attacked in the northern Black Sea.
Cacdac said the vessels are now in safe ports, and the Filipino seafarers are expected to return to the Philippines tentatively around Sept. 11 to 12. (PNA)
