Eight crew members repatriated from container vessel seized in Hormuz

June 29 ------ Eight crew members of the Greek-operated container ship MV Epaminondas have been released and repatriated months after the vessel was seized by Iranian forces in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Philippine Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) announced that four Filipino crew members arrived home on 23 June. The returning seafarers received financial assistance from the DMW and OWWA, as well as temporary hotel accommodation. They will also join two colleagues who are currently undergoing medical assessment.

With the latest arrivals, six Filipino crew members have now been reunited with their families following the security incident in the Persian Gulf. The DMW said another Filipino seafarer is expected to return, while the remaining three will be repatriated once Iranian military authorities grant the necessary clearance.

Meanwhile, Ukraine also confirmed the release of four of its nationals who had been detained aboard the vessel. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhiy Tykhyi said the four sailors have left Iran and safely returned to their families after weeks of diplomatic efforts. He thanked diplomats from partner countries, the shipowner, and others involved in securing the crew’s release.

The Liberian-flagged container ship MV Epaminondas was attacked and seized by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on April 22, 2026, while transiting the strategic Strait of Hormuz en route to India.

An IRGC gunboat approached the vessel about 20 nautical miles off the coast of Oman without prior radio contact and opened fire, causing heavy damage to the ship’s bridge before Iranian forces boarded and escorted it to the Iranian coast.

The 21-member crew, composed of Filipino and Ukrainian seafarers, was reported unharmed despite the attack. Iran later claimed the vessel had been operating without the required permits and had tampered with its navigation systems, allegations disputed by the ship’s operators.

Source: safety4sea.com