DFA: Replacement crew needed for release of 18 Filipino seafarers onboard ship seized by Iran

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 23) --- The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said that the manning agency of the 18 Filipino seafarers onboard St. Nikolas is looking for a replacement crew to facilitate their possible release.

The seafarers were onboard the oil tanker off the Gulf of Oman last January 11 when the Iranian Navy seized the ship.

“Yung barko kahit naka anchor sa port hindi pwede walang tripulante. Papalayain sila ng mga Iranian kung may papalit na sa kanila. So, the manning agency is looking for a replacement crew. Ito ang issue ngayon,” said DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega in an interview with CNN Philippines.

[Translation: While the ship is anchored in a port in Iran, it cannot be operated without the crew. So, the manning agency is now looking for possible replacements so that the Filipinos will be allowed to leave the ship]

De Vega said the Filipinos are not being "held hostage" but they are only under the custody of the Iranian government. The DFA official said that the Filipino crew members are performing several important functions in the oil tanker’s operations.

The Philippine Embassy in Iran visited the seafarers last week.

“They said they are alright, in fact they have recreational activities, they have possibilities to contact their families, their salaries continue, but we want them to be released as soon as possible. They also want better internet connection,” said De Vega.

The Philippine government previously reiterated its request to Iran to allow the release of 18 Filipino seafarers onboard St. Nikolas.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo made the appeal to Iran 1st Vice President Mohammad Mokhber on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Uganda.

“I likewise asked for the release of the 18 PH seafarers currently aboard the detained ST Nikolas, and requested that Iran continue to grant consular access to our Embassy in Tehran,” said Manalo.