By Roy Mabasa
The Philippine government on Thursday expressed its appreciation to friendly governments for the rescue of a total of 32 Filipino seafarers who are crew members of the two disabled oil tankers sailing through the Gulf of Oman.
(FILES) In this file picture obtained by AFP from Iranian news agency Tasnim on June 13, 2019, reportedly shows an Iranian navy boat trying to control the fire from Norwegian owned Front Altair tanker said to have been attacked in the waters of the Gulf of Oman. - President Donald Trump downplayed recent attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman that Washington blames on Iran and noted that the United States is less dependent on energy supplies from the region."So far, its been very minor," Trump told Time magazine in an interview released June 17, 2019. However, Trump said he accepts the US intelligence assessment that Iran is behind the explosions that damaged the hulls of Norwegian and Japanese tankers."I dont think too many people dont believe it," he said. (Photo by - / TASNIM NEWS / AFP)
The statement came following the return of 11 Filipino crewmembers of the Norwegian-flagged oil tanker MT Front Altair that was attacked off the Strait of Hormuz on June 13.
Representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and their local manning agency were on hand to welcome the 11 Filipino seafarers upon their arrival at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Wednesday.
The oil tanker caught fire after it was hit by a suspected limpet mine on the Gulf of Oman, sending a thick cloud of black smoke into the atmosphere.
Reports said the Norwegian-owned ship with a total 23 crewmembers was loaded with naphtha from the United Arab Emirates when it was attacked.
The ship’s captain radioed for help as its cargo of flammable chemicals caught fire.