Twenty-one Filipino seafarers affected by separate maritime incidents and security concerns involving three vessels have returned to the Philippines, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said.

The returning overseas Filipino workers arrived on 15 August and received airport, financial, medical and other assistance from the DMW, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and other government agencies.

The group included three seafarers from M/V Abu Al Abyad, seven from M/V En Ocean and 11 from M/V Europe I.

The three Filipino crew members of M/V Abu Al Abyad arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 aboard Emirates flight EK336. Their vessel was hit by a projectile on 11 August while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Preliminary reports said the vessel’s main engine remained operational under its own power and that a damage assessment would be conducted after it anchored in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates. All crew members were reported safe and accounted for, with no injuries.

Seven Filipino seafarers from M/V En Ocean were also repatriated after the vessel suffered a breakdown and was subsequently abandoned in Malaysia.

Meanwhile, 11 Filipino seafarers from M/V Europe I returned after deciding not to continue their voyage because of security concerns over the vessel’s planned route, including the possibility of transiting designated High-Risk and Warlike Areas in the northern Black Sea region.