Iran releases all Filipino crew members from seized container ship MSC Aries

All Filipino crew members aboard the Portuguese-flagged MSC Aries, seized by Iranian officials, have safely returned home.

The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirmed the return of the final three Filipino crew members on August 01, 2024.

The MSC Aries was captured by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on April 13, 2024, while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel, with a crew of 23 members, was taken into Iranian custody amid rising tensions following a suspected Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate in Damascus.

Iran accused the ship of violating maritime laws and alleged links to Israel, a claim disputed by the shipping industry.