seafarertimes.com ~ Maritime News for Filipino Seafarers

Editorial, Panay News - Pinoy sailors
February 27, 2020 https://www.panaynews.net/pinoy-sailors/

THERE was an unnecessary brouhaha in recent weeks about the reported impending closure of many maritime schools due to deficiencies and failure to meet training and education quality standards. The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) eventually denied it, to the relief of thousands of maritime students, their parents, and the schools concerned.

Filipino crew leave Diamond Princess; others remain on board
Ana P Santos 26 Feb 2020 https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/filipino-crew-leave-diamond-princ...

(see video here: https://twitter.com/i/status/1232248787160027136)

All Filipino crew not infected by the virus arrive home but hundreds of workers from other countries remain on ship.

Giant VLOC Listing Off Brazil
Mike Schuler February 26, 2020 https://gcaptain.com/giant-vloc-listing-off-brazil/?utm_campaign=twitter...

Photo shows the Stellar Banner with a severe list off the coast of Brazil, February 26, 2020.

Fake Certificates Continue To Endanger Seafarers
26/02/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/fake-certificates-continue-to-endan...

The problem of fraudulent certificates is well-known and pronounced in the maritime industry. Already in 2001 the IMO detected 12.635 cases of certification forgery. While this figure is shocking enough, there is no way of knowing how many other cases have gone undetected.

The Problem with Fake Certificates

Philippines seafaring industry undergoing key EMSA audit for STCW
Marcus Hand | Feb 26, 2020 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/philippines-seafaring-...

The Philippines has started to undergo a key audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to finally determine whether the country’s standards of seafarer training meet those of the STCW code

Toxic chemicals and seafarer’s heart diseases
ATTY. DENNIS R. GORECHO | February 25,2020 https://cebudailynews.inquirer.net/290253/toxic-chemicals-and-seafarers-...

Seafarer’s medical conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, can be attributed to their constant exposure to hazards such as toxic chemicals and the varying temperature, coupled by stressful tasks in his employment.

Seafarer with coronavirus on vessel that called Singapore fully recovers
Marcus Hand | Feb 24, 2020 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/seafarer-coronavirus-v...

A seafarer onboard a ship that arrived in Singapore from China, who had contracted the coronavirus (Covid-19) has fully recovered and the vessel resumed normal operations.

Film highlights corruption and theft faced by seafarers
Marcus Hand | Feb 25, 2020 https://www.seatrade-maritime.com/ship-operations/film-highlights-corrup...

Theft and extortion common experiences, say seafarers
25/02/2020 https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/theft-and-extortion-common-experien...

Seafarers have spoken of the pressures caused by corrupt practices when they arrive at some ports.

EU’s final audit hangs over PH seafaring industry
Roy Mabasa February 23, 2020 https://news.mb.com.ph/2020/02/23/eus-final-audit-hangs-over-ph-seafarin...

The proverbial “sword of Damocles” hangs over the head of the Philippines’ seafaring industry as it faces the final audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) to determine the country’s fitness to continue deploying seafarers into European waters.