The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) has assured the public that all 20 Filipino seafarers aboard the M/V MSC Elsa 3, which sank off the coast of Kochi, Kerala, India on May 24, are safe and receiving support while awaiting repatriation.
DMW Secretary Hans Leo J. Cacdac confirmed that the seafarers, who were part of the crew of the Liberian-flagged cargo vessel, are now staying in a hotel in Kochi under the care of representatives from the ship’s principal based in India. “One of the directives of our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is to always ensure the safety and well-being of our seafarers, much especially during unfortunate situations,” Cacdac emphasized.
While the crew members remain in India as authorities continue investigating the incident, the DMW has instructed the local manning agency (LMA) to provide legal assistance, interpreters, and essential supplies, especially since the seafarers lost their personal belongings in the incident.
To fast-track their return home, the DMW is working with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and its Office of Migration Affairs, as well as the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi, which has been requested to issue temporary travel documents to replace the seafarers’ passports and Seafarer Registration Cards left onboard the sunken vessel.
“The DMW will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide timely updates. We stand ready to extend any and all assistance required by the seafarers and their families,” Cacdac said.
The M/V MSC Elsa 3 reportedly capsized near the port city of Kochi on May 24, prompting immediate response from Indian maritime authorities and support coordination from the Philippine side.
