CREW OF HIJACKED “GOLDEN NORI” UNHARMED  

31 October 2007 – Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Esteban Conejos Jr. says that the nine Filipino seafarers and the rest of the 23-man crew of hijacked Japanese chemical tanker “Golden Nori” are reported “unharmed and being fed.”   

Undersecretary Conejos, at a briefing for the press this afternoon at the Department of Foreign Affairs, said that the Filipino captain of the hijacked vessel has phoned his family this morning and told them that he and the other crewmen were being “treated well” by the hijackers. 

Conejos also gave the assurance that the Philippine Government is closely coordinating with the owners of the vessel, the Japanese Government, the local manning agency and international shipping authorities on efforts to secure the safe release of the crew and ship.  He said that he has met with their representatives, as well as with some family members of the Filipino crew.  He said also that instructions have been issued to the Philippine Embassies in Nairobi and Kuala Lumpur to coordinate efforts with the Seafarers’ Association in Mobassa, Kenya, and the International Maritime Bureau in Kuala Lumpur, respectively. 

Conejos also reiterated that the ban on travel and deployment to Somalia, in force since 2005, remains, as do those to Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Nigeria. 

/Gary