The Epaminondas: Crew Feedback and Vessel Data

On July 6, 2023, the last three Filipino crew members of the container vessel 'Epaminondas' returned to the Philippines, marking the successful repatriation of all ten Filipino sailors involved in a security incident in the Strait of Hormuz. The trio arrived on a Qatar Airways flight at Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 in Pasay City. Their safe return was a result of meticulous coordination among the shipowner, their agency, and the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW). Upon arrival, they were greeted by family members, DMW officials, representatives from the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), and their licensed manning agency. The seafarers received essential financial and medical support from the DMW and OWWA, while their agency arranged temporary accommodations. They are also undergoing additional medical and psychosocial evaluations to aid in their recovery and ease their reintegration following the challenging ordeal. This group represented the final Filipino crew members who obtained clearance from Iranian military authorities to exit the vessel, with replacement crews arriving from Russia, Sri Lanka, and Ukraine. Previously, the first seven Filipino crew members were repatriated in three separate batches throughout June.

In a significant development, eight crew members from the vessel 'Epimonidas' have been released by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and have begun their journey back home. Repatriation efforts are ongoing, with hopes that more crew members will follow suit in the forthcoming days. Four Ukrainian sailors from the ship have safely returned to their homeland and were joyfully reunited with their families. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, efforts to secure the crew's release have been coordinated through the Ukrainian embassy in Greece, advocating for the rights of those detained since their capture in April. Meanwhile, the Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers confirmed that four Filipino crew members from the same ship landed back in the Philippines late on June 22. Authorities reported that the returning crew are in good health but will undergo medical evaluations as a standard procedure. Additionally, two other seafarers had previously made their return, while one more crew member is anticipated to arrive on June 25. However, three crew members still remain in Iran, awaiting further developments. It is expected that the remaining crew will be repatriated promptly, contingent upon clearance from Iranian military authorities. The 'Epimonidas' was seized after a tense encounter on April 22 when the vessel attempted to navigate the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate that the ship came under fire approximately eight nautical miles from Iran, resulting in significant damage to its bridge. Following this, the IRGC boarded the vessel, redirecting it towards Iranian waters, alongside another ship, the 'MSC Francesca', which was also targeted during the incident. The IRGC maintains that both ships attempted to enter the Strait of Hormuz unlawfully.

On April 22, 2026, a dangerous incident unfolded in the Strait of Hormuz when the container ship 'Epaminondas' came under fire from an Iranian gunboat belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). At 6:55 a.m. Greek time, the vessel was targeted approximately 15 nautical miles northeast of Oman, leading to substantial damage to its bridge. Alarmingly, the gunboat approached without any prior communication via VHF and opened fire, although fortunately, there were no fires or environmental incidents reported. All crew members onboard the 'Epaminondas' were confirmed safe following the attack. Before the incident, the ship had been granted permission to transit the strait, but authorities are currently investigating the legitimacy of this passage approval, including the possibility of fraud. Following the assault, the 'Epaminondas' was seized and is now slated to be taken to Iran, currently anchored at coordinates 26° 57' N 056° 22' E as of April 23. In a related incident that same day, the container vessel 'Euphoria' (IMO: 9235828) was also fired upon around 6:38 a.m. UTC, located roughly eight nautical miles west of Iran. Having begun its outbound transit through the Strait of Hormuz at 01:10 a.m. UTC with Jeddah as its destination, the crew of the 'Euphoria' was reported safe, and no damage was found on the vessel. By April 23, it was anchored at position 25° 25' N 056° 37' E. Another ship, the 'MSC Francesca' (IMO: 9401116), similarly faced aggression while heading southward into the Gulf of Oman, being hailed by the IRGC about six nautical miles from the Iranian coast and ordered to anchor. The vessel reported damage to both its hull and accommodation, and like the others, was also seized, anchored at 26° 29' N 056° 55' E as of April 23. In light of these escalating tensions, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has urged vessels operating in the Strait of Hormuz to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.

The 'Maersk Kalmar' is back on the move following successful repairs after its collision with the 'Conmar Avenue'. The vessel underwent a thorough repair process at Schiedam Yard in Rotterdam, which was finalized on July 3. After departing Wilton Port at 10 a.m., the ship arrived at Europe Port at 1:30 p.m. On July 4, at approximately 6 p.m., it made its way to the APM Terminal before embarking on its journey toward the Suez Canal. This marks a significant milestone for the 'Maersk Kalmar', ensuring its return to operational status.

The container vessel Maersk Kalmar departed from Bremerhaven on May 12 at 10:20 AM and made its way to the APM Terminal in Rotterdam, arriving on April 13 at 10:15 PM. Following the offloading of cargo, the vessel is scheduled to arrive at Damen Shiprepair's Schiedam Yard for essential repairs on May 16 at 10 PM, primarily focusing on addressing damage sustained from a collision. Meanwhile, the Conmar Avenue is currently under repair at Bredo Shipyard located in Bremerhaven. This repair work emphasizes the ongoing commitment to maintaining fleet safety and operational efficiency.

On the afternoon of May 7, at approximately 4 p.m., the 'Maersk Kalmar' collided with the 'Conmar Avenue' while navigating the Weser River. Following the incident, the 'Maersk Kalmar' successfully docked at Strom Quay in Bremerhaven at 5:20 p.m., with all 28 crew members reported safe and unharmed. The Cuxhaven casualty command took charge of the situation by 6 p.m. Meanwhile, an oil surveillance flight monitored for potential pollutants, but thankfully, no contamination was detected. The 'Conmar Avenue', which had run aground due to the collision, was subsequently assisted by tugs and refloated at 6:30 p.m. The vessel, which was en route from Kotka, reached Strom Quay by 9:30 p.m., with its crew of 15 also remaining unharmed. During the incident, the 'Conmar Avenue' lost multiple containers from its deck, prompting a coordinated effort by five tugs to manage the situation. The anti-pollution vessel 'Neuwerk' established a security zone to safeguard the area, while the emergency tug 'Nordic' was dispatched for further assistance, arriving at 1 a.m. on May 8. Recovery operations for the lost containers were planned for daylight hours. However, throughout the night, strong currents caused six containers to break loose from their rescue tugs. Fortunately, two of these were recovered by the 'Neuwerk', while the remaining four drifted into the wetlands, where they were monitored via radar. The sonar ship 'Zenit' from the Bremerhaven Shipping Authority was deployed to survey the Weser fairway, ensuring safe navigation for vessels up to a draft of 9.5 meters.