PH Embassy in Oslo Assists in Repatriation of More Than 450 Seafarers from Bergen, Norway

Philippine Ambassador to Norway Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia (center) with the crew of Viking Cruises before their departure in Bergen Flesland Airport on 07 June 2020. (Oslo PE photo)

NORWAY 15 June 2020 – The Philippine Embassy in Oslo assisted in the repatriation of more than 450 seafarers and crew of various ships docked around Norway due to work stoppage because of the threat of COVID-19. The stranded seafarers were looking forward to going home and reunite with their families after more than two months of quarantine in their respective vessels and waiting for their flight back home.

The repatriation flights were coordinated by various agencies and organized by different shipowners such as Viking Cruises and Hurtigruten, with the assistance of the Philippine Embassy in applying for the landing clearance in NAIA.

Philippine Ambassador to Norway Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia also met with the representatives of the shipowners and ship agents at Bergen Flesland Airport and discussed issues and concerns and the way forward for the shipping industry, particularly on crewing as the COVID-19 pandemic continue to wreak havoc in all parts of the world. END

Vice Consul Josel Mostajo with some members of the crew from Viking Cruises on 07 June 2020 at Bergen Flesland Airport while waiting for their chartered flight to Manila. (Oslo PE photo)

Philippine Ambassador to Norway Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia (leftmost) with some crew members of MS Roald Amundsen of Hurtigruten while waiting for their departure to Manila from Bergen on 06 June 2020. (Oslo PE photo)

Philippine Ambassador to Norway Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia (center) with Captain Kai Albrigtsen (right) and Hotel Manager of MS Roald Amundsen of Hurtigruten Frederik Ekeland (left) who went to the airport to send off their crew on the repatriation flight to Manila. (Oslo PE photo)

Philippine Ambassador to Norway Jocelyn Batoon-Garcia (leftmost) discusses with the representatives of ship owners and ship agents in Bergen Flesland Airport while waiting for the repatriates to arrive at the airport from various parts of Norway. (Oslo PE photo)

For more information, visit https://www.oslope.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinNorway/.