Philippines say Houthis will release nine crew held captive after sinking of bulker Eternity C

Nine crew members who have been held hostage since Houthi militia missiles sank bulker Eternity C in the Red Sea in early July 2025 are said to be on their way home.

The Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) published a notice to its government media channels saying the Sultanate of Oman had confirmed the release of the nine Filipino crew members who were taken into custody after being ’rescued’ by Houthi vessels in the Red Sea. 

"The release was the outcome of efforts of Oman, in co-operation with the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs," the statement said, noting personal diplomatic communications between the Foreign Ministers of both countries in July and again in November 2025. 

The Philippines expressed ’sincerest appreciation’ to the Omani government and said the Philippine Embassy in Muscat and Migrant Workers Office in Muscat would be making arrangements for "the safe and immediate return of the Filipinos to the Philippines".

Although the nine crew members appear to be on their way home, the fate of two further sailors working on board Eternity C remains unclear. 

According to statements from crew representatives Cosmoship Management, there were 22 crew and three guards on board Eternity C. Of those 25 personnel on board, 10 were confirmed rescued by non-Houthi search and rescue teams engaged by the shipmanagement company in the aftermath of the Houthi attack on the vessel. Two were confirmed deceased and two others were lost and feared to have died, leaving 11 unaccounted for. 

A heavily edited Houthi proof of life video published at the end of July 2025 claimed the militia group had 11 of Eternity C’s personnel in custody. If the video is genuine, the additional 10 crew and one security guard claimed to be in Houthi custody would take the total number of survivors to 21. The Houthi release of nine crew from Eternity C leaves two of the vessel’s personnel still unaccounted for.

Riviera has contacted Cosmoship Management representatives and will update this article with any response.