MANILA, Philippines - Fifteen Filipino crewmen of a Greek-owned tanker hijacked by pirates off Nigeria on Aug. 16 have been rescued by Nigerian naval forces.
The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said yesterday the M/T Norte’s local manning agency reported that the Filipinos were rescued on Aug. 17.
DFA spokesman Raul Hernandez said the ship had “15 Filipino crewmembers on board, all of whom are unharmed and safe.â€
A representative of the local manning agency told the DFA that the vessel is anchored at Escravos Anchorage and the Filipino seamen were brought to the Nigerian naval base in Warri State for debriefing.
They are set to sail to Lagos today, Hernandez said.
The families of the Filipino crewmembers had already been informed.
“We have instructed our embassy to visit the seafarers once they arrive in Lagos and extend necessary assistance to them,†Hernandez said.