15 Filipino seafarers safe, bound for PH after Strait of Hormuz attack

MANILA, July 15 ------ The 15 Filipino seafarers aboard the Qatari tanker Al Rekayyat, which was damaged after being hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, are set to return home, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

In a statement, the DFA said the seafarers were repatriated on Tuesday. "Our absolute priority is the safety and well-being of our kababayans (fellow citizens) at sea. We are working closely with the vessel owners to ensure their continuous protection, monitor their emotional well-being after this ordeal, and facilitate their swift repatriation,” Philippine Labor Attaché to Muscat Alice Visperas said.

The DFA said the Philippine Embassy and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Muscat immediately extended welfare assistance to the Filipino crew following the incident. The embassy dispatched an MWO rapid response team to coordinate with the ship's management and ensure that the seafarers were safe and uninjured. The team also made sure they received food, medical checkups and communication access to contact their families in the Philippines. "Under the guidance of the Philippine Embassy in Muscat, the MWO continues to monitor security developments in the region to safeguard overseas Filipino workers," the DFA said.

The Al Rekayyat tanker was struck by a projectile and caught fire while transiting near the Strait of Hormuz on July 6. The Qatari government has held Iran "fully legally responsible" for the attack, describing it as "a grave violation of the safety of international navigation, a direct threat to global energy supply security, and a clear and flagrant breach of international law."

Source: pna.gov.ph