MANILA, (PNA) -– The 15 Filipino sailors rescued by Nigerian naval forces a day after their ship, Greek-owned tanker, was hijacked by pirates last August 16, returned to their vessel on Thursday and are currently en route to the Nigerian city of Lagos, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Friday.
Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said the Filipinos were all “unharmed and safe” and were brought to the Nigerian Naval Base in Warri state for debriefing after the successful rescue operation.
“We have instructed our embassy to visit the seafarers once they arrive Lagos and extend the necessary assistance to them,” Hernandez said.
The last piracy incident in Nigeria involving Filipino seamen was on Feb. 4, 2013 when pirates attacked MT Pyxis Delta, a Marshall Islands-flagged chemical tanker. The pirates were unsuccessful in their attempt to seize the vessel because of armed personnel on board.
In nearby Somalia, where ransom kidnapping of foreign crew is prevalent, five Filipino seafarers are being held by Somali pirates.
The Philippines is one of the world’s largest providers of shipping manpower in the world.
A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20 percent of the world’s 1.2 million sailors are manning oil tankers, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to piracy attacks.