The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Wednesday that the 18 Filipinos released by Somali pirates are expected to be home in two to three weeks time.
DFA spokesman J. Eduardo Malaya said that the manning agency and the ship’s principal are making arrangements for the repatriation of the released seafarers.
“They are expected to be home in the next few weeks, maybe in two to three weeks,” Malaya said.
The 18 Filipino seamen as well as a Greek captain, onboard Greek-owned and Panama-flagged MV Navios Apollon, were released Monday by Somali pirates. The vessel's local manning agency had confirmed that all the seafarers are in good health and are on their way to a port in Oman.
MV Navios Apollon was hijacked on December 28, 2009 some 240 nautical miles east of Seychelles, as it headed for Rozy, India from the Tampa, Florida, USA with a cargo of fertilizer.
At that time, the number of Filipino seafarers in the hands of Somali pirates was 71.
But Malaya said that following the release of the 18 Filipino seafarers, the number of Filipino seamen still being held captive by Somali pirates is now down to five in two vessels: Two in Thai Union 3 and three aboard MV St. James Park.
“This is the lowest number of Filipino seafarers in custody of Somali pirates in recent times,” he said.
The United Nations (UN) International Maritime Organization (IMO) has dedicated 2010 to the 1.5 million seafarers, 30 percent of whom are from the Philippines.
“For seafarers, the world over deserve our respect, recognition and gratitude and, during 2010, we at IMO are resolved to ensure that the world does take notice of your exceptional role and contribution and of the special debt that all of us owe to you,” UN IMO Secretary General Efthimios Mitropoulos had said. (Madel Sabater)
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