4 Pinoy seafarers on board MSC Aries container ship seized by Iran —DMW

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) on Sunday confirmed that four Filipino seafarers were among the crew on board a ship seized by Iranian authorities.

The said vessel is the container ship MSC Aries, it added in a statement shared on X by DMW officer-in-charge Hans Leo Cacdac.

"Upon the directive of the President, we are in touch with the families of our dear seafarers and have assured them of full government support and assistance," the DMW said.

"We are also in coordination with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the licensed manning agency, ship manager and operator, to ensure the safety and well-being, as well as work on the release, of our dear seafarers," it said.

Cacdac, in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Sunday, also said he has gotten in touch with the labor attaché in Tel Aviv and Philippine Ambassador to Iran Roberto G. Manalo.

An Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps helicopter boarded the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries and took it into Iranian waters on Saturday, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported, according to Reuters.

"MSC, which operates the Aries, confirmed Iran had seized the ship and said it was working 'with the relevant authorities' for its safe return and the wellbeing of its 25 crew," Reuters reported.

"MSC leases the Aries from Gortal Shipping, an affiliate of Zodiac Maritime, Zodiac said in a statement, adding that MSC is responsible for all the vessel's activities. Zodiac is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer," it added.

This incident prompted Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz to accuse Iran of piracy.

Cacdac said he is hoping the seafarers would be released by their captors soon.

"Meron nang similar na pangyayari three months ago kung saan nakalaya din ang mga seafarers," he said on dzBB.

(There was a similar incident three months ago wherein the seafarers were freed.)

Cacdac was referring to the Galaxy Leader commercial ship which was seized by Houthi rebels in the southern Red Sea in November. Seventeen Filipino seafarers were on board the ship at the time of the incident. Bulgarian authorities later on said in February the crew were "safe and sound" and will return to Bulgaria soon. —KG, GMA Integrated News