Pirates seize vessel with 19 Pinoy crew off Oman

Somali pirates seized a Liberian-flagged vessel with 19 Filipino crew on board off Oman this week, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. Citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Nairobi, the FDA said the incident occurred off the coast of Oman on the morning of May 12. “Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned MV Eleni P was hijacked 250 nautical miles off the coast of Oman on its way to Kandla, India. Along with the Filipino crew members are two Romanians and one Indian national," the DFA said. It cited information from the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) indicating the crew members are safe, and that they are monitoring the situation. The DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) is closely coordinating with the vessel’s principal, the local manning agency and the concerned Philippine Embassies for the early resolution of the case. “There are now 63 Filipino seafarers on board five vessels being held captive by Somali pirates: three onboard the MV St. James Park, one onboard MV Iceberg 1, 19 onboard the MT Samho Dream and 21 onboard MV Voc Daisy," the DFA said. — LBG, GMANews.TV