Filipino Crew Members of MSC ARIES Released by Iran

The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in the Philippines has confirmed that all Filipino crew members aboard the MSC Aries, which was seized by Iran, have been released.

On April 13, the container ship, while nearing the Strait of Hormuz about 50 nautical miles east of Fujairah, was boarded by Iranian forces using a helicopter. The vessel, along with its 25 crew members, was taken by Iranian authorities.

Iranian media alleged a connection between the MSC Aries and Israel, though no specific reasons or accusations were provided to justify the seizure.

Initially, there were four Filipino crew members on the seized vessel. One crew member was released in May due to health issues, while the remaining three returned to the Philippines on August 1.

Hans Cacdac, Secretary of the DMW, expressed gratitude to the MSC Aries shipowner and the Iranian government for their cooperation and assistance in securing the crew members' return to the Philippines.

Previously, Iran had agreed to replace the crew members at the end of their contracts to ensure the vessel's continued operation. The ship and its cargo remain under Iran's control.

The MSC Aries is a container ship built in 2020, flying the Portuguese flag. The vessel is owned by Zodiac Maritime, a company associated with Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.