Iran has released all 18 Filipino seafarers who were held aboard the MV St. Nikolas after the manning agency that hired them deployed their replacements. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed that the Filipino seafarers were repatriated in batches, with the final group of six arriving in Manila last week. The DFA expressed gratitude to Iran for their understanding and to the manning agency for making the repatriation possible.
The Filipino seafarers were released by Iran after their replacements from other countries were secured by the manning agency. Filipino seafarers make up a significant portion of the global maritime industry, with nearly half a million serving on cargo and cruise ships. The DFA had previously announced that the Iranian government would release the Filipino crew members once their replacements arrived to take over the ship.
Efforts are also being made to secure the release of 17 other Filipino seafarers being held aboard the Galaxy Leader by suspected Houthi rebels. Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo assured the families of the seafarers that everything is being done to bring them home safely. The hijacking of the vessel by the Houthi rebels was reportedly due to its connection to Israel, with the rebels declaring ships linked to Israel as legitimate targets in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
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