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A total of eight seafarers have been repatriated by Iranian authorities after months of detention. Their return has been confirmed by Ukrainian and Philippine authorities, who reported that the seafarers are safe and sound.
Vessel EPAMINONDAS, image credit: Giovanni Costigliola
The seafarers were released from the Liberia-flagged container ship Epimonidas, which was detained by Iran in April this year. The crew reported being shot at, after which Iranian authorities released video footage showing IRGC personnel boarding the vessel.
The container ship Epimonidas was one of two vessels that attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on 22 April. The second vessel was the Panama-flagged container ship MSC Francesca. Both ships were fired upon, boarded by the IRGC, and subsequently detained. IRFC alleged that the vessels were operating without authorization, had committed repeated violations, and attempted to transit the Strait without necessary permit while tampering with navigation systems.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has corroborated the information and confirmed that four seafarers have been repatriated and have now reunited with their families. Similarly, the Philippines' Department of Migrant Workers confirmed that four crew members from the vessel arrived in the country on 22 June.
Epimonidas had 21 crew members including Ukrainian and Filipinos at the time of detention. It remains unclear about the remaining crewmember release. There is no exact count of crew aboard MSC Francesa and whether any crew members from the vessel will also be released.
