MANILA — Nine Filipino seafarers who spent months stranded in Lebanon amid escalating regional conflict have returned to the Philippines, the government said Monday, as authorities work to bring home 11 more crew members still awaiting repatriation.
The mariners, crew members aboard the oil tanker M/V Hawk III, were left unable to return home after their vessel was detained in October 2025 and became caught in the worsening security situation gripping the Middle East, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said in a statement.
The nine seafarers landed in Manila on July 10 aboard Emirates Flight EK 332, where they were met by representatives from the DMW, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and their manning agency. Officials provided immediate airport assistance and pledged continued post-arrival support to help the men recover from their prolonged ordeal.
“The seafarers remained unable to return home after their ship was detained in October 2025 and later caught in the escalating tension and armed conflict in the region,” the DMW said.
The agency credited the successful repatriation to coordinated efforts among the DMW, OWWA, the Migrant Workers Office in Lebanon, and the Philippine Embassy in Beirut.
Eleven additional crew members from the same vessel remain abroad, with the DMW saying it is awaiting confirmation of their flight arrangements.
The Philippines is one of the world’s largest suppliers of maritime labor, with hundreds of thousands of Filipino seafarers working on vessels globally. The government has faced growing pressure to protect overseas workers as conflicts in the Middle East continue to disrupt shipping lanes and endanger foreign crews.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed the DMW to prioritize the safety and welfare of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) caught in conflict zones, the agency said.
