Officials from both the Philippines and Ukraine report that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has released at least some of the seafarers who were working aboard a Greek-owned container ship seized in April. In total, eight crew members of the Epimonidas have been repatriated, and other crew members are expected to be released in the coming days.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that four crew members of the ship have returned to Ukraine and reunited with their families. The Ministry stated that it worked through the Ukrainian embassy in Greece to secure the release of the crew, who had been detained since April.
The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers also reported that four crew members of the same ship returned to the Philippines late on June 22. They appear to be in good health but are still undergoing medical checks.
The agency reported that two other seafarers have already returned to the Philippines from the ship. It added that another crew member is expected to arrive on Thursday, while three others remain in Iran. The remaining individuals are expected to be repatriated as soon as Iranian military authorities give the green light.
The Epimonidas (94,769 dwt) was one of two MSC container ships that attempted to force their way through the Strait of Hormuz on April 22. The ship, registered in Liberia and managed by the Greek group Techomar, was about eight nautical miles from Iran when it reported being targeted by gunfire. Built in 1998 and with a capacity of 6,690 TEU, the ship’s bridge suffered severe damage. The Revolutionary Guards released images of their forces storming the ship, which was then forced to head towards Iran.
It was seized together with the MSC Francesca (174,897 dwt), which also reported being targeted by gunfire before being boarded. The ship, with a capacity of 11,312 TEU and registered in Panama, was also heading towards Iran. The Revolutionary Guards stated that the ships had attempted to enter the Strait of Hormuz without authorization.
It is not known how many crew members were aboard the two ships, nor whether the crew of the MSC Francesca has also been released. Iran has repeatedly stated that MSC is linked to Israeli interests and that, for this reason, its ships have been targeted.
Two years earlier, in 2024, Iran had also seized the MSC Aries, a container ship owned by London-based Zodiac Maritime, claiming the intervention was in support of the Houthis. The ship had a crew of 25, who were later released, but according to some sources, Iran demanded a ransom of $170 million for the release of the vessel.
