28 Chinese illegally working as ship crew

28 Chinese illegally working as ship crew
Yashika F. Torib March 26, 2025 https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/03/26/business/maritime/28-chinese-ille...

TWENTY-EIGHT Chinese were discovered by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to be working illegally on three vessels at the Manila Anchorage during an inspection last March 20.

The joint inspection conducted by the PCG, Bureau of Immigration (BI), Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA) is in line with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s order to strengthen the country's maritime security and domain awareness.

The group found out that MV Huagan 98, MV An Da Kang 3689, and MV Shingping 007 have a total of 28 Chinese who have been illegally working as crew while the said foreign vessels were at the Manila Anchorage area.

Multiple violations were also recorded for each of the vessels.

MV Huagan 98's vessel calendar indicated the presence of seven Chinese crew members last March 19, 2025. A review of the logbook, however, showed that eight Chinese crew disembarked before dawn of March 20, the day of the inspection.

The ship captain contradicted the logbook records and denied the crews' presence.

All Chinese were assigned official designations onboard which violates existing Marina regulations limiting foreign crew members to supernumerary roles for a single voyage without prolonged stay on board.

Supernumerary, in the context of manning regulations, indicates a person who is not a crew member but is onboard for a specific purpose such as security, maintenance, or observation.
Other violations include missing Domestic Shipping Operation Certificate and a non-functional CCTV system which raised safety and security concerns.

MV An Da Kang 3689

Authorities discovered during inspection that nine Chinese onboard MV An Da Kang 3689 were likewise given official designations onboard instead of supernumerary roles as per Marina regulations.

The crew then failed to follow proper turnover procedures, with the outgoing crew abandoning their posts before the arrival of replacements.

DOLE also flagged contract violations as these crew members were authorized to work in Zambales but were operating in Manila waters.

The vessel lacked a valid Domestic Shipping Operation Certificate.

MV Shingping 007

The inspection of MV Shingping 007 revealed the presence of 12 Chinese whose official designations as "technicians" did not match their Alien Employment Permits (AEPs).

DOLE has warned that this discrepancy could lead to the revocation of their AEPs.

On top of this violation, MV Shingping 007 mirrored the same manning irregularities found onboard MV An Da Kang 3689.

The PCG and its partner agencies remain steadfast in ensuring compliance with Philippine maritime laws. Appropriate legal actions will be pursued against the erring shipping companies, and vessel operators found violating labor and immigration policies.

This joint inspection stresses the government's unwavering commitment to maritime security, crew welfare, and regulatory enforcement within Philippine waters.