After releasing 20 Filipino seafarers on Saturday, pirates struck anew on Monday seizing a bulk cargo carrier with 19 Filipino seafarers on board, according to the European Union's Naval Force (EU-NAVFOR) in Somalia.
EU-NAVFOR said the bulk cargo carrier MV Dover was seized by pirates about 260 nautical miles northeast of Salalah in the North Arabian Sea.
“The MV DOVER has a crew of 23 (3 Romanian, 1 Russian and 19 Filipinos). There is presently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew," it said in a bulletin posted on its website Monday evening.
It cited initial reports that the incident occurred at 6 a.m.
The Panamanian-flagged, Greek-owned vessel was attacked on its way to Saleef in Yemen from Port Quasim in Pakistan.
However, no other details of the attack were immediately available.
The EU-NAVFOR said MV Dover was registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA), and was reporting to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
EU-NAVFOR said it is continuing to monitor the situation.
This brings to 137 the total number of Filipino seafarers held captive by Somali pirates in 12 vessels.
The most recent incident occurred just as the Department of Foreign Affairs announced the release of the MV Izumi with 20 Filipino seafarers on board last Feb. 26.
MV Izumi, a Japanese-owned, Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel was hijacked last Oct. 10 while heading to the Kenyan Port of Mombasa from Japan.
EU-NAVFOR said the bulk cargo carrier MV Dover was seized by pirates about 260 nautical miles northeast of Salalah in the North Arabian Sea.
“The MV DOVER has a crew of 23 (3 Romanian, 1 Russian and 19 Filipinos). There is presently no communication with the vessel and no information regarding the condition of the crew," it said in a bulletin posted on its website Monday evening.
It cited initial reports that the incident occurred at 6 a.m.
The Panamanian-flagged, Greek-owned vessel was attacked on its way to Saleef in Yemen from Port Quasim in Pakistan.
However, no other details of the attack were immediately available.
The EU-NAVFOR said MV Dover was registered with the Maritime Security Centre Horn of Africa (MSC-HOA), and was reporting to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
EU-NAVFOR said it is continuing to monitor the situation.
This brings to 137 the total number of Filipino seafarers held captive by Somali pirates in 12 vessels.
The most recent incident occurred just as the Department of Foreign Affairs announced the release of the MV Izumi with 20 Filipino seafarers on board last Feb. 26.
MV Izumi, a Japanese-owned, Panamanian-flagged cargo vessel was hijacked last Oct. 10 while heading to the Kenyan Port of Mombasa from Japan.
A ban proposed by the Manila has met strong opposition from local seafarers’ groups, saying this policy would cost them their jobs and force shipping companies to turn to other nations for manpower.
The Philippines is the world’s leading sup...plier of ship crew with over 350,000 sailors, or about a fifth of the world’s seafarers, manning oil tankers, luxury liners and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to piracy attacks.
As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate with nor pay ransom to kidnappers, but gives ship owners the free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors
Aside from getting double pay during the passage of the ship through Gulf of Aden, the POEA resolution specifies that Filipino seafarers will be told of the route and that those who will choose to disembark will be allowed to do so.
On the replacement of the Filipino seafarers who choose to sign off their contract instead of risking their lives, Roque said the manning agencies would simply have a ready crew on standby at the last port of embarkation, usually Singapore.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has issued Board Resolution No 4 in October 2008 declaring the Gulf of Aden as a high-risk zone.
Seafarers on board vessels passing through the area are entitled to receive double compensation and benefits
The Philippines is the world’s leading sup...plier of ship crew with over 350,000 sailors, or about a fifth of the world’s seafarers, manning oil tankers, luxury liners and passenger vessels worldwide, exposing them to piracy attacks.
As a policy, the Philippine government does not negotiate with nor pay ransom to kidnappers, but gives ship owners the free hand in negotiating for the release of abducted Filipino sailors
Aside from getting double pay during the passage of the ship through Gulf of Aden, the POEA resolution specifies that Filipino seafarers will be told of the route and that those who will choose to disembark will be allowed to do so.
On the replacement of the Filipino seafarers who choose to sign off their contract instead of risking their lives, Roque said the manning agencies would simply have a ready crew on standby at the last port of embarkation, usually Singapore.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration has issued Board Resolution No 4 in October 2008 declaring the Gulf of Aden as a high-risk zone.
Seafarers on board vessels passing through the area are entitled to receive double compensation and benefits
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