DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E
www.dfa.gov.ph                                                                                           2330 Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                                                                 Tel. No. 834-4000 
SFA-AGR-871-05                                                                                                                                                                                                                             09 December  2005

PHILIPPINE EMBASSY STOCKHOLM FACILITATES IMMEDIATE RETURN TO RP OF  16 FILIPINO SEAFARERS WHO SURVIVED SEA MISHAP

9 December 2005 – The Philippine Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that the Embassy has facilitated the issuance of the necessary travel documents for the immediate return to the Philippines of sixteen Filipino seafarers who survived a shipping accident on 7 December 2005.

Ambassador Victoria Bataclan informed the Department that the sixteen Filipino seafarers    survived the shipping mishap when their Danish flag cargo ship M/V Vertigo was involved in a collision at 1:00 a.m. last Wednesday in the Great Belt off the coast of Agersoe, Denmark. “The vessel sank within one hour after the collision.  All the 16 Filipino crewmembers are safe,” Ambassador Bataclan said.

The Ambassador added that fourteen of the Filipino crewmembers are scheduled to arrive at 7:35 p.m., Friday, 9 December 2005, aboard a Lufthansa flight LH-788.   They are:

1. Dominador R. Unida – 2nd Officer;
2. Joselito D. Cahigan – 3rd Engineer;
3. Ariel D. Lomugdang;
4. Aniceto I. Gusi – Bosun;
5. Dominador D. Velasco – A/B;
6. Hannibal C. Tunacao – A/B;
7. Joselito M. Palal – A/B;
8. Ever H. Sajot – O/S;
9. Edgardo A. Dimaculangan – O/S;
10. Joseph T. Eden – Oiler;
11. Moises Zamorro – Oiler;
12. Ronaldo H. Trovela – Oiler;
13. Amory G. Rasos – Messman; and
14. Woderick V. Zapata – Messman.
 The two remaining seafarers are scheduled to arrive at a later date upon completion of their travel documents, Ambassador Bataclan added.  They are:
1. Julius S. Castillo – Chief Cook; and
2. Romel G. Garcia – Wiper.
The Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs, DFA has requested the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to inform the families of the seafarers that their loved ones are safe and to provide assistance upon their arrival at the NAIA.

J. Poulsen, the Danish shipping agency of the Filipino seafarers, has coordinated with the Philippine Consulate General in Copenhagen and the Philippine Embassy in Stockholm in arranging the travel documents including the airline tickets for the immediate repatriation of the seafarers.  J. Poulsen is represented in the Philippines by Medbulk Maritime Management Corporation with offices in Malate, Manila.  END
 

/jay