MANILA: Forty Filipino seafarers will soon be repatriated after a Chinese fishing vessel and a Panama-flagged bulk carrier collided in the Singapore Strait, Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac said on Thursday.
“They are all safe and we are arranging for their repatriation through the LMA, shipowner and the [Philippine Embassy] in Singapore,” Cacdac said in a text message to Inquirer.
He added that the DMW is also coordinating with Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Constance See Sin Yuan.
The collision between the fishing vessel Lu Qing Yuan Yu 108 and the First Margaux occurred on Sept. 17 at around 5 p.m., international media reported, citing the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
But authorities have yet to disclose more details about the incident, including which vessel the Filipino seafarers were aboard.
According to the MPA, there were no reported injuries among the crew members of either vessel, and the Chinese fishing vessel remained afloat. - Inquirer/ANN
