THE Filipino crew of bulk carrier MV Angelic Power, stranded in China for the past 17 months, may finally be repatriated in the coming weeks.
In a news statement on Tuesday, Magsaysay Maritime Corporation (MMC), the manning agency of the Filipino sailors, said that a “provisional repatriation plan” was created by the court-appointed of custodian of MV Angelic Power.
“It is our understanding that the proposed plan is for the Filipino crew to disembark on or about July 20 in preparation for possible repatriation on July 22,” MMC said.
“This is an ongoing matter. We will keep everyone posted on updates and developments as information becomes available,” the manning firm added.
To recall, the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) ordered MMC last month to immediately bring home the stranded seafarers or face possible sanctions.
They were stranded in China after their ship became subject of a court case there.
POEA threatened to suspend the license to operate of MMC if it fails to comply with the said order.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro L. Locsin Jr. then directed the undersecretary for migrant affairs to follow up on negotiations to press for the repatriation of the sailors, who have apparently been caught in the middle of a legal tussle between the boat owner and Chinese authorities.