10 Filipino seafarers aboard Liberian-flagged oil tanker return to Philippines

Ten Filipino seafarers aboard the M/V Yamilah III, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker, safely returned home to the Philippines on Saturday, 10 October, via Emirates Airlines flight EK332, which landed at Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City.

Ten Filipino crew members were repatriated after their ship was attacked and damaged while sailing out of the Strait of Hormuz.

Assistant Regional Director Maria Theresa Sanz of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) National Capital Region (NCR), along with representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) medical team, welcomed the returning seafarers upon their arrival.

The returning seafarers received airport assistance and financial aid as a safety net from the DMW and OWWA, while the MIAA medical team conducted initial medical examinations.

Representatives from BSM Crew Service Centre Philippines Inc., the manning agency that deployed the seafarers to their jobs, also went to the airport to personally welcome them and provide additional assistance for their immediate needs.

The DMW and OWWA have also directed the manning agency to ensure that the seafarers undergo the necessary physical and psychological examinations, as well as debriefing sessions if needed. The agency was also reminded of its obligation to provide all applicable benefits and compensation that the crew members are entitled to receive in connection with their repatriation.

The DMW also urged all licensed manning agencies and their accredited principals to continuously monitor the safety, welfare, and condition of Filipino seafarers deployed on their vessels.

The Department also emphasized the importance of adhering to the necessary safety precautions and the strict implementation of existing protocols for ships carrying Filipino seafarers passing through the Strait of Hormuz.