MANILA, Philippines — The Filipino crewmembers of two oil tankers that were attacked in the Gulf of Oman are safe, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) reported yesterday.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said there were no reports of casualties among 11 Filipino seafarers who were on board the oil tankers.
Bello said the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration would coordinate with the manning agency of the seafarers for assistance.
“We are extending assistance, if necessary, to the seafarers, including repatriation in high-risk zones,” he said.
Reports said the Marshall-Islands flagged tanker Front Altair manned by Filipinos and several other nationalities was heading to Taiwan from Qatar when it was attacked on June 13.
The other tanker, a Panama-flagged ship, was heading to Singapore from a port in Saudi Arabia when a fire broke out.