seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

The Philippines: A global power in seafaring
Bernardo M. Villegas August 13, 2025 https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2025/08/13/691068/the-philippines-a...

(Part 1)

At a recent graduation ceremony of the NYK-TDG Maritime Academy (NTMA), located at the Carmelray Industrial Zone in Canlubang, I felt very proud of Filipino manpower, despite recent breast-beating about the poor state of Philippine education.

Group of shipowners lauds DOTr, MARINA
Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon - August 10, 2025 https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2025/08/10/2464556/group-...

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu’s shipping industry leaders commended the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) for the long-awaited approval of the Minimum Safe Manning Standards for Vessels Engaged in Domestic Trade, a milestone nearly two decades in the making.

MARINA revises minimum safe manning policies in domestic shipping
Raymond Carl Dela Cruz August 8, 2025 https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1256179

MANILA – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has updated the minimum safe manning policies for Philippine-registered ships operating in local waters to address the growing shortage of seafarers in the country’s domestic shipping industry.

Fishermen saved, seafarer rushed to hospital in Durban rescue missions
https://www.africaninsider.com/news/fishermen-saved-seafarer-rushed-to-h...

Durban – Four local fishermen were brought to safety and a seafarer was evacuated to hospital in two separate maritime incidents off the Durban coast on Friday and Saturday.

Fire hits Maersk ship off Liberia
Adis Ajdin August 14, 2025 https://splash247.com/fire-hits-maersk-ship-off-liberia/

A fire broke out on Wednesday onboard a Maersk ultra-large containership while sailing off the coast of Liberia.

The 2013-built 19,076 teu Marie Maersk, operating under the Gemini Cooperation’s Asia–Europe AE4 service, was en route from Rotterdam to Tanjung Pelepas when crewmembers detected smoke coming from containers on deck.

When is a seafarer not a seafarer?
August 7, 2025 https://splash247.com/when-is-a-seafarer-not-a-seafarer/

Steven Jones, founder of the Seafarers Happiness Index, writes about the growing concern of riding squads.

When is a seafarer not a seafarer? It sounds like the start of a lame dad joke, and in many ways, it is. But the answer is far less amusing: when they’re aboard as part of a supposedly temporary riding squad.

Filipino seafarer loses job over video of him kissing 3-year-old son
Maila Ager - August 13, 2025 https://globalnation.inquirer.net/288054/filipino-seafarer-loses-job-ove...

MANILA, Philippines—A Filipino worker at a cruise ship has lost his job for keeping a video showing him and his wife kissing their three-year-old son.

The video was considered child pornography material by the United States authorities and was used against Romeo Samonte.

PHL seeks seafarer protections via new labor deal with Liberia
Adrian H. Halili August 15, 2025 https://www.bworldonline.com/labor-and-management/2025/08/15/691678/phl-...

THE PHILIPPINES is looking to strengthen seafarer protections by signing new labor agreements with Liberia, according to the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

Filipino seafarers claimed they were ‘framed,’ deported due to alleged child pornography
GISELLE OMBAY, August 13, 2025 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/content/955806/filipino-seaf...

Several Filipino seafarers traversing US territorial waters narrated on Wednesday how they got deported after they were “falsely accused” of having access to child pornography materials.