At least 23 Filipino seafarers aboard a Panama-flagged and Malaysian-owned tanker that was rescued from pirates arrived in Malaysia safely, the Department of Foreign Affairs said.
The seafarers serving aboard the M/T Bunga Laurel arrived at Port Klang, Selangor last January 31, the DFA said Thursday night.
"The arrival came 11 days after Malaysian Navy commandos launched a successful interdiction and rescue operation of the tanker from Somali pirates at the Gulf of Aden," the DFA said in a statement posted on its website.
Zakiah Hanim of the Malaysian International Shipping Corporation's (MISC) Corporate Affairs informed the Philippine Embassy that "all the 23 Filipino crew members on board are safe," the DFA said.
Malaysian commandos turned over the seven Somali pirates captured during the operation to police authorities.
A Philippine Embassy team composed of Consul General Renato Villa, Labor Attaché Alicia Santos and Welfare Officer Robert Chuan boarded the tanker and met the all-Filipino crew last February 1.
The team conducted reintegration services to the Filipino crew members.
"The crew members will receive benefits under their insurance scheme and under the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) employment contract," the DFA said.
MISC Fleet Manning Operations Senior Manager Achuthan Nair Balan committed that the crew members will receive compensation for their personal belongings lost during the incident and de-stressing and psychiatric sessions to ease their trauma.
The crew members will also be provided complete health care coverage upon their arrival in the Philippines.
The vessel was loaded with a cargo of lube oil from Le Havre, France and of ethylene chloride from Stade, Germany.
It stopped for refueling in Jeddah then proceeded to the Gulf of Aden north of the Indian Ocean, where it was boarded by Somali pirates.
The tanker's captain was able to alert M/V Bunga Das 5, the Malaysian naval ship providing security escort to Malaysian merchant ships passing through the Gulf of Aden.
MISC is a subsidiary of Malaysian oil giant Petronas. It currently operates 71 container ships and tankers. Its sister company, AET, has 60 merchant ships. — RSJ
