Some 21 Filipino seafarers stranded on bulker S-Breeze in the Ukraine returned to their country on Tuesday while crew for five more vessels are set to be repatriated.
The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs said officials from the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) welcomed home the first 21 seafarers from the S-Breeze on Tuesday having flown back from Bucharest, Romania.
A group of seven Filipino seafarers from the Joseph Schulte were also expected to arrive on Tuesday. Crew from the Star Helena, Global Aglaia, Key Knight and Pavlina, were all on their way back from Bucharest to Manila.
“The Department expects more arrivals in the coming days as it steps up its efforts to bring home our kababayan from Ukraine,” OUMWA Undersecretary, Sarah Lou Arriola, said.
At least five international trading vessels have been shelled or struck in Ukrainian ports since the conflict began, while at least one seafarer has killed.
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