Forty-six overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) from Kuwait and 17 Filipino seafarers who survived the deadly M/V Minoan Dignity incident in the Strait of Hormuz have safely returned to the Philippines, authorities said.
The two groups arrived in Manila on separate flights on Friday night, August 21, marking another major repatriation effort as Philippine authorities continue assisting Filipinos affected by security risks in the Middle East.
The 46 OFWs from Kuwait arrived at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 aboard Kuwait Airways Flight KU417, while the 17 Filipino seafarers arrived at NAIA Terminal 3 aboard Emirates Flight EK334, according to the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
Seafarers survived deadly Strait of Hormuz attack
The return of the 17 seafarers comes after a much more dangerous journey.
The M/V Minoan Dignity, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, was struck by an unidentified projectile while conducting an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz on August 17–18. Maritime security reports said the impact caused damage to the vessel and killed its chief engineer. Reuters also identified the ship as the Minoan Dignity and reported that the casualty was the vessel’s chief engineer.
The Philippine government said 18 Filipino crew members were aboard the vessel at the time. One Filipino chief engineer died, while the remaining 17 Filipino crew members survived and were subsequently brought to Khasab, Oman, where arrangements were completed for their return to the Philippines.
The incident has drawn international attention because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most strategically important maritime routes, making attacks on commercial vessels a significant threat to both seafarers and global shipping.
Maritime industry publications including The Maritime Executive, SeaTrade Maritime and gCaptain independently reported the vessel attack and the death of a crew member. UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the vessel had been struck by an unknown projectile and that the remaining crew were assisted by the Omani Coast Guard.
OWWA assistance awaits returning OFWs
The 46 returning OFWs from Kuwait were also met by OWWA personnel upon arrival.
According to the agency, assistance included financial support, food, temporary accommodation for workers who needed it, and transportation to their home provinces. OWWA said its regional offices would continue providing assistance after the workers return to their communities.
Depending on individual circumstances and qualifications, the returning OFWs may also be referred for welfare services, livelihood programs, employment assistance, counseling and other reintegration support.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), OWWA, Manila International Airport Authority medical personnel and the seafarers’ licensed manning agency also assisted the returning crew members.
Part of a wider Middle East repatriation effort
The latest arrivals come amid a much broader Philippine government effort to bring Filipinos home from conflict-affected areas in the Middle East.
In July, the DMW said 10,580 OFWs, other overseas Filipinos and dependents had been repatriated from conflict-affected areas in the region. Earlier government figures also showed thousands of Filipinos had already returned through commercial and government-assisted flights.
The situation is particularly important for Filipino seafarers because thousands of them work aboard vessels operating in and around the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. In May, the DMW reported that about 1,300 Filipino seafarers had safely crossed the Strait of Hormuz, while others were still attempting to leave the area amid heightened security concerns.
The latest repatriation therefore represents more than the return of 63 workers. It highlights the continuing risks faced by Filipinos working overseas—and the government’s ongoing effort to get vulnerable workers home safely when conditions deteriorate.
For the 17 seafarers of the Minoan Dignity, however, the return to Manila carries an especially heavy significance: they made it home after an attack that claimed the life of one of their fellow Filipino crew members.
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