19 RP seamen freed by Somali pirates

MANILA, Philippines -- The Department of Foreign Affairs announced Saturday the release of the chemical tanker MT Bow Asir and its crew, including 19 Filipino seamen.

In a text message to reporters, DFA spokesperson Ed Malaya said the Philippine embassy in Nairobi, Kenya reported that ship, which is managed by Norway’s Salhus Shipping, is now steaming to safety away from Somali waters following its release on Friday.

“We thank the Salhus Shipping, the Norwegian government and other parties for working for the expeditious release and repatriation of Bow Asir and its crew,” Malaya said.

He said that Salhus Shipping focused on the crew’s safety and even sent a senior official to Manila to meet and assure family members of the Filipino crew of their safety.

“We thank all of them for the early resolution of the incident,” Malaya added.

The Bow Asir, a Norwegian-owned and Bahamian-registered ship, had a full cargo of caustic soda when it was seized by pirates last March 9 some 250 miles east of the coast of Somalia. It had a crew of 27, including 19 Filipinos, five Polish, a Norwegian, a Lithuanian and a Russian.

With the release of Bow Asia, the number of Filipino seafarers in captivity is down to 98, involving six vessels. - Cynthia Balana, Philippine Daily Inquirer, April 11, 2009