DOLE helps 9 Pinoy crewmen of ship that sunk off Sweden

Department of Labor and Employment Secretary Arturo D. Brion assured full assistance possible to the families of a Filipino seafarer who died, as well as nine other seamen who survived, after a Swedish ship sank in the Baltic Sea in stormy weather Wednesday last week.

According to the DOLE Information and Publication Service, Brion directed the Philippine Overseas Labor Office nearest to the Scandinavian area in Europe, particularly in Brussels and in London, to coordinate the necessary assistance for the seafarers, which includes the immediate repatriation of the nine survivors, as well as the remains of the lone fatality.

Brion also directed the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration to coordinate with the ship’s local manning agents and principals for the necessary assistance to the victims. The Swedish ship-owner, Linholm Shipping, and local manning agency identified as Scanmar Maritime Services, have pledged assistance to them.

“We have also activated linkage with the Department of Foreign Affairs to ensure the necessary one-country assistance to the Filipino seafarers through its official missions in Scandinavia,” he said.

British Broadcasting Corp. reported that the Finnbirch, a roll on-roll off Swedish cargo ship with a crew of 10 Filipinos and four Swedes, capsized and sank in the vicinity of Oland and Gotland islands in the Baltic Sea after leaving Helsinki, Finland for Copenhagen.

Despite heavy winds and freezing weather, responding Swedish rescue helicopters managed to rescue 13 crewmen, including initially seven of 10 Filipinos, and then three other Filipino seafarers.

The rescued crewmembers were confined at a hospital in Lannsjukhuset, Sweden, for appropriate medical treatment. However, the last of the 10 Filipino seamen to be rescued, identified as Danilo Paras, 52, reportedly did not survive, as he succumbed to hypothermia a few hours later. The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration later confirmed this report.

The OWWA identified the nine Filipino survivors, as: Gilbert Salido, Benedicto Agngarayngay, Manuel Barcelona, Gerry Dupo, Rolando Esguerra, Leo Jose Talipe, Wilfredo Ramos, Jose Noel Saquilayan, and Ephraim Torre.

Under OWWA rules, documented OFWs are covered by Php 200,000 accidental insurance, alongside other appropriate benefits, on top of the applicable provisions of the POEA standard contract.