MANILA, Philippines—Four Filipinos were among the crew members on board a Danish-owned cargo ship seized by suspected Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
A local manning agency that deployed the seafarers has confirmed this report, the DFA said in a statement Saturday.
Two other Danish crew members were also seized after the pirates boarded Leopard, a 2,000-ton ship believed to be carrying "sensitive" cargo, off the coast of Oman, it said.
News reports said the pirates later abandoned the ship, which the Turkish Navy eventually located.
The local manning agency has informed the families of the seafarers about the incident.
The DFA and the Department of Labor and Employment have been closely coordinating with the concerned Philippine Embassies, the ships’ principals and the local manning agencies in efforts to secure the early and safe release of the seafarers.
Manila has undertaken measures to minimize the exposure of Filipino seafarers to piracy attacks, including making arrangements with ship principals and manning agencies for vessels to travel along a safety corridor patrolled by foreign Navies.
Currently, there are 113 Filipino seafarers onboard 11 vessels still being held by pirates in the lawless region.
A local manning agency that deployed the seafarers has confirmed this report, the DFA said in a statement Saturday.
Two other Danish crew members were also seized after the pirates boarded Leopard, a 2,000-ton ship believed to be carrying "sensitive" cargo, off the coast of Oman, it said.
News reports said the pirates later abandoned the ship, which the Turkish Navy eventually located.
The local manning agency has informed the families of the seafarers about the incident.
The DFA and the Department of Labor and Employment have been closely coordinating with the concerned Philippine Embassies, the ships’ principals and the local manning agencies in efforts to secure the early and safe release of the seafarers.
Manila has undertaken measures to minimize the exposure of Filipino seafarers to piracy attacks, including making arrangements with ship principals and manning agencies for vessels to travel along a safety corridor patrolled by foreign Navies.
Currently, there are 113 Filipino seafarers onboard 11 vessels still being held by pirates in the lawless region.
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