seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Pirates kidnap 9 Pinoy seamen in Africa
Dona Z. Pazzibugan November 05, 2019 https://globalnation.inquirer.net/181879/pirates-kidnap-9-pinoy-seamen-i...

MANILA, Philippines — Nine Filipino crew members of a Norwegian cargo ship were kidnapped by pirates in the West African nation of Benin last Saturday.

The shipping company J.J. Ugland, which owned the vessel MV Bonita, confirmed the abduction in a statement issued on Sunday.

Ogie Diaz slams Panelo’s ‘not a concern’ remark on all-Filipino crew ship incident
Cody CepedaI November 04, 2019 https://entertainment.inquirer.net/350401/ogie-diaz-slams-panelos-not-a-...

Ogie Diaz was saddened by Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo’s statement regarding the Chinese naval ship that tried to stop a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned ship with an all-Filipino crew from passing near Scarborough Shoal.

Pirates Kidnap Nine from Tanker Off Benin
Reuters November 4, 2019 https://gcaptain.com/pirates-kidnap-nine-from-tanker-off-benin/?utm_camp...

OSLO, Nov 3 (Reuters) – A vessel owned by Norwegian shipping firm J.J. Ugland was boarded by pirates while at anchor off the coast of Benin on Saturday, and nine crew members were kidnapped, the company said on Sunday.

Did MARINA clear local coastguard in sea tragedy?
Ruby Silubrico -Monday, November 4, 2019 https://www.panaynews.net/did-marina-clear-local-coastguard-in-sea-tragedy/

ILOILO City – Did the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) investigation on the capsizing of three motorboats at the Iloilo Strait on Aug. 3 clear the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Western Visayas?

Panelo on ‘Aura’ incident: Not a PH vessel? ‘Not a concern’
Krissy Aguilar November 03, 2019 https://globalnation.inquirer.net/181826/panelo-on-aura-incident-not-a-p...

NONTHABURI, Thailand — The latest incident at the Scarborough Shoal involving a “Chinese naval ship” and a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned oil tanker with an all-Filipino crew is “not a concern,” Malacañang said Sunday.

DG Shipping targets seafarers’ recruitment and manning agents
31/10/2019 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/dg-shipping-targets-seafarers-recru...

After targeting maritime training institutes, faculty and seafarers over quality issues, India’s maritime administration is now looking to rein-in recruitment and manning agents by grading their performance through an external agency.

IMO Ramps Up Effort to Fight Fake Flag Registries
2019-10-29 https://www.maritime-executive.com/article/imo-ramps-up-effort-to-fight-...

In response to a spike in fake flag registrations, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is seeking to combat "rogue" national flag registries which are operating without the knowledge of governments they claim to represent, according to the insurer Standard Club.

Seamen and vessel owners’ maintenance obligation
John K. Fulweiler OCTOBER 31, 2019 https://www.workboat.com/blogs/maritime-matters/seamen-and-vessel-owners...

The obligation of maintenance is triggered when a seaman is disabled while in the service of the vessel no matter the cause. It’s an obligation intended and enforced to protect the “poor and friendless” sailor. But what if the seaman returns to work? Does this obligation cease?

Brazil blames devastating oil spill on Greek-flagged tanker
Reuters in Brazil 1 Nov 2019 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/01/brazil-blames-oil-spill-gr...

A Greek-flagged ship carrying Venezuelan crude was the source of an oil spill which has tarred thousands of kilometers of coastline over the past two months, Brazilian investigators have announced.

Fake cruise ship captain seduces lonely landlubber, vanishes with her money

The ocean can be a fickle mistress.

A woman in Delaware was recently scammed out of her money by a man claiming to be a cruise ship captain, after he allegedly courted the woman online and then promised to marry her.

The "captain" reportedly vanished once he got the cash.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Delaware released information about the scam on its Twitter account, keeping the victim’s details anonymous, but writing that the scammer went by the name "Captain James Rockwell.”