22 January 2004 – Foreign Affairs Secretary Delia Domingo Albert said that she still held out some hope that the Filipino seamen trapped inside the capsized MV Rocknes could be rescued, even in the face of the decision of the Norwegian authorities to end rescue operations.

“We continue to hope that by some miracle, we might find more survivors even though rescue operations have ended,” the Secretary said. She added that she had conveyed to the Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines, Ambassador Paul Moe, the hope that rescue operations would continue.  15 missing Filipino crew
members are believed to be trapped in the capsized vessel.  “However, we understand that the Norwegian authorities had to make this difficult decision, based on the conditions on the ground.  They are in the best position to make such a decision and we have to reluctantly accept it,” Secretary Albert said.

The Secretary said that personnel from the Philippine Embassy in Sweden were in Bergen, Norway to assist the survivors and to prepare the documentation for the return of the remains of those who perished.  “We will continue to work closely with Jebsen Management, the manning agency of the crewmembers.  We have received their assurance that our seafarers and their families will receive all the benefits owed to them.  Jebsen Management has also undertaken to send the family members of our seafarers to Norway,” the Secretary said.

“We will expedite the issuance of the passports of the relatives of our seamen.  We will work closely with the Norwegian Embassy in Manila to help them obtain their visas.  It is in this context that we welcome the announcement by Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik that his country would help relatives of the victims to travel to Norway,” the Secretary said.

“I was told by our Ambassador to Sweden, Ambassador Vicky Bataclan that the Filipino community in Norway has been helping our seamen there.  She also said that masses and prayer vigils will be held by the Filipino community in the hope that more of our countrymen will be rescued.  I would like to tell the members of our Filipino community in Norway and in Sweden, and to all those who are praying for the safety of our seamen, that I am praying with them and that the Filipino people deeply appreciate their efforts and their concern,” Secretary
Albert said. END.