DFA: 10 of 18 Filipinos from seized oil tanker in Middle East back in PH

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) says on Monday, March 11 ,2024, that 10 of the 18 Filipino crew members of the seized MV St. Nikolas have arrived in the Philippines. The Marshall Islands-flagged MV St. Nikolas was the oil tanker seized by Iran’s navy in the Gulf of Oman on January 11. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Ten of the 18 Filipino crew members of MV St. Nikolas have arrived in the Philippines, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.

The Marshall Islands-flagged MV St. Nikolas was the oil tanker seized by Iran’s navy in the Gulf of Oman on January 11.

DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega also said Monday that two more Filipino seafarers from the ship are set to return to the Philippines this week.

“Of the 18 Filipino seafarers, one returned last February and nine arrived yesterday (Sunday, March 10) with an additional two arriving Wednesday. So that is 12. The remaining six will eventually be repatriated too,” de Vega said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.

“The key is that the manning agency is replacing them with foreign crewmen as per our strong request,” he added.

The Department of Migrant Workers earlier disclosed that all Filipino crew members aboard MV St. Nikolas are in “good condition” under the custody of the Iranian government.

The IRNA news agency said the Navy of the Islamic Republic of Iran seized “an American oil tanker in the waters of the Gulf of Oman in accordance with a court order.”

The seizure of MV St. Nikolas was in retaliation for “violation committed by the Suez Rajan ship… and the theft of Iranian oil by the United States,” it added,

The United States, in return, condemned what it called an “unlawful seizure” and demanded Iran “immediately release the ship and its crew.”

In January, Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo appealed to Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber to allow the safe release of the Filipino sailors aboard the seized oil tanker.