Ten months after they were seized, at least 17 Filipino seafarers aboard a Taiwanese-flagged vessel were released off the coast of Somalia Thursday afternoon. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the fishing vessel FV Win Far 161 was hijacked on April 6, 2009 off the coast of Seychelles by Somali pirates. “Before it was released yesterday, it was the longest held vessel with Filipino crew,” the DFA said on its website. The DFA Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs (DFA-OUMWA) coordinated with the owner of the fishing vessel in Taiwan, who confirmed the seafarers' release. The vessel owner said the Filipino crew were all in good health, and is currently arranging for the crew's repatriation to the Philippines. There are still 23 Filipinos held captive off Somalia on-board three vessels. Of the 23, two are on-board the Thai Union 3, three are on-MV St. James Park and 18 on-the MV Navios Apollon. The DFA-OUMWA continues to coordinate closely with the local manning agencies for the early and safe release of all these seafarers.
