Stranded in Malta, Filipino sailors return home

Fifteen Filipino seamen are now back in the Philippines with their loved ones following their repatriation from Malta on 18 April, after being stranded for eight months on Maltese waters.

The seafarers formed part of the crew of the MV B Lady Bug. The company that owned the vessel went bankrupt and abandoned the crew.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), citing a report from the Philippine Embassy in Italy, yesterday said that the long wait had come to an end on 17 April when the Filipino sailors finally disembarked from the ship, which was made possible by a Maltese court’s decision to approve the sale of the vessel to new owners.

The Filipinos were replaced with a new crew and given financial settlement, including back pay, allowances and repatriation cost.