ABOUT 1,000 Filipino seafarers aboard some 500 vessels run by shipowners from Southeast Asia are stuck in the Strait of Hormuz, said Mohamad Safwan bin Othman, chairman of the federation of shipowners in the region.
Othman, chairman of the Federation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Shipowners Associations, said this was down from the peak period of the crisis when there were 2,000 or more ships stuck in the strait.
He estimated that a “big chunk”— more than 50 percent — of the 2,000 seafarers stuck in the ships today are Filipinos.
“But again, we do not have the right data because some of the ships, they turn off their radar to make sure that they won’t be detected by the [concerned] authorities,” Othman said in a chance interview.
“Because some of them have different negotiations with authorities. In shipping, you know, the ports that control is the authority that give the clearance, the port clearance,” he said.
“So, in the Strait of Hormuz, there are two countries currently managing the strait — Iran and Oman. But mainly Iran because of the oil supply. And the oil tanks are all on the Iranian side,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Embassy in Oman provided assistance to three Filipino seafarers aboard the Saudi-flagged crude oil supertanker MV Wedyan, which was hit by an Iranian missile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The embassy and the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) Muscat coordinated with concerned stakeholders to ensure the safety of the unidentified Filipinos who expressed their intention to return home.
“They were assisted in their departure from Muscat International Airport and have safely proceeded to Manila, where they will receive further assistance from relevant Philippine government agencies,” the embassy said on Thursday.
Earlier, 15 Filipino seafarers on board MV Wedyan were confirmed safe, accounted for and without injuries following the missile attack.
The embassy and MWO-Muscat continued to monitor the situation and coordinate with the concerned manning agency, ship management and relevant stakeholders to ensure the welfare of the Filipino crew.
The embassy expressed its appreciation to Oman and concerned authorities for their continued assistance and support in safeguarding the welfare of Filipino nationals.
Meanwhile, a total of 55 overseas Filipino workers from Dubai and the Black Sea arrived in the Philippines on Thursday.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) said on Facebook that the 38 individuals from Dubai and their 12 dependents as well as the 17 MT GAS seamen affected by the Black Sea attack received immediate assistance and support from the government.
The repatriated workers and their dependents received airport assistance, food, financial assistance and transportation assistance, and temporary accommodations were given to those that needed them, OWWA said.
“The 17 Filipino mariners of M/T GAS were also given special financial assistance as part of the government’s immediate support. After airport assistance, they were welcomed by their manning agency which gave temporary accommodation and transportation assistance for their return home to their respective provinces while other needed post-arrival arrangements were being made,” OWWA said.
