Bodies of Filipino seamen found

DFA spokesman Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Friday confirmed that two bodies recovered following a ship collision in the North Sea on Monday belong to two Filipino seamen who went missing after the mishap.

DFA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Raul Hernandez said the Philippine Embassy in The Hague has already informed the families of the deceased seamen, whose names have been withheld.

“Repatriation procedures will now be undertaken,” said Hernandez in a statement.

The two Filipinos were among three crewmen of the Maria that went missing after colliding with fish trawler Texel 68 early Monday off the Dutch Coast. The ship was at the time deployed to guard an oil drilling platform some 40 kilometers southwest off the Dutch navy port of Den Helder.

Two crewmen were immediately rescued after the incident.

Filipino seafarers account for one-fourth of the world’s total merchant mariners.