Tag: Philippines

Somali pirates currently hold captive 10 vessels and 159 hostages The Philippines has backed the use of armed private security guards on board its flagged vessels as part of the drive against Somali piracy. Although controversial, the deployment of onboard armed teams is believed to have been successful in reducing the number of Somali pirate hijacks in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.Philippine shipping companies who choose to use private guards will have to adhere to the strict guidelines set by the Maritime Industry Authority and the International Maritime Organization (IMO).Filipino seafarers, who make up a quarter of the world's seagoing workforce, have been particularly hard hit by Somali pirate attacks, with 769 captured between 2006 and 2011. The country will be the first to be visited by new IMO secretary general, Koji Sekimizu.A group of suspected pirates caught during a British Royal Navy operation in the Indian Ocean on 13 January have now been handed over to the authorities in Seychelles where they will face prosecution. The 13 men surrendered after Royal Marines boarded a hijacked Yemeni fishing dhow, found to be carrying a variety of weapons. A Danish naval ship has also handed over four suspected pirates ...

On February 7-9 2012 The newly elected Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Koji Semikizu, will visit the Philippines on February 7-9, 2012. It will be his first official visit to a member state after assuming office on January 2, 2012.This is indicative of the high regard and importance that the IMO has given to the Philippines' stature as a maritime country and a primary source of able and qualified seafarers.During the said visit, the Secretary General will have a courtesy call on President Benigno Aquino III upon arrival and will likewise make courtesy calls on the Secretaries of Transportation & Communications and Labor & Employment. He will also visit a maritime school and a training center.On February 8, 2012, the Secretary General will be the Guest of Honor at a Lunch Forum to be hosted by the Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA) together with the Joint Manning Group (JMG) composed of various maritime associations and organizations in the Philippines. The forum will be attended by the stakeholders from the different sectors of the Philippines' overseas maritime industries.Topics to be discussed by the Secretary General are the STCW Manila Amendments, piracy and the importance of the Filipino seafarer to ...

For the safe operation of Philippines-registered ships To foster the safe operation of Philippines-registered ships, all domestic ships/motor boats carrying cargo units are required to have on board a Cargo Securing Manual (CSM) and the corresponding valid Compliance Certificate at all times.The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) shall now implement, effective immediately, the "Revised Rules and Regulations to Implement the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing in Domestic Shipping" pursuant to MARINA Memorandum Circular No. 2011-03, advised Engr. Emmanuel B. Carpio, Regional Director of MARINA in Northern Mindanao.Thus, all ships/motor boats carrying cargo units except ships/vessels, used solely in the carriage of gasses in bulk, and in the carriage of solid or liquid cargoes and timber stowed on deck, as well as motor boats of 3 GT and below, are compelled to always have on board a CSM and CSM Compliance Certificate.This is pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 474, Executive Order 125-A, and the applicable chapters of Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 as amended, Carpio said.He further said that non-compliance shall be subject to sanctions prescribed under the Public Service Act, as amended, the Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations and the above-mentioned Circular without prejudice ...

Currently, there are 26 Filipino seafarers being kept hostages by Somali pirates Newly-elected International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary General Koji Sekimizu is scheduled to visit Manila in February to confer with senior Philippine government officials on the various approaches that can be pursued to resolve the piracy threat off Somalia.The Philippines will be the first country he will visit after his scheduled meeting with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in New York this month.Currently, there are 26 Filipino seafarers on board three vessels which have remained in the hands of Somali pirates. The longest one in detention is a crew member of M/V Iceberg I which was hijacked last March 29, 2010 off the Port of Aden in Yemen.In their participation at meetings to combat piracy in IMO, the UN, and in various track-two fora, Philippine government officials have been advocating the importance of promoting the safety of seafarers held hostage by pirates. This advocacy has been supported by other governments.Pending the resolution of the piracy problem, the Philippines now allows the deployment of private armed guards by Philippine shipping companies with vessels operating off Somalia, subject to their adherence to strict guidelines promulgated by the Maritime Industry Authority ...

Philippines now allows the deployment of private armed guards Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, concurrently Philippine Permanent Representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), met with the new IMO Secretary General, Mr. Koji Sekimizu, at the IMO Headquarters in London on January 5. Ambassador Manalo was the first Permanent Representative to be received by Secretary General Sekimizu after the latter's assumption last January 1.In their discussion, Ambassador Manalo highlighted the importance placed by the Philippine Government in promoting the welfare of Filipino seafarers and protecting them from the continuing threat of piracy off Somalia.Secretary General Sekimizu appreciated the concern of the Philippines, recognizing that it is the primary provider of seafarers to the international shipping community.He indicated that the problem of piracy must be addressed cooperatively by IMO, the United Nations, and other concerned agencies and organizations and emphasized the importance for IMO to take the lead in addressing this piracy menace.He added that the problem of piracy would be more effectively addressed if resources could be channelled to support and strengthen the government institutions in Somalia. Doing so can eradicate the roots of the piracy problem on their shore rather than for the international community to continue relying on naval ...

To minimize the risk Filipino seafarers face from Somali pirates The Philippines has given Manila-flagged merchant vessels the go-ahead to deploy private security groups to minimize the risk Filipino seafarers face from Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs.The move, however, is "subject to Philippine shipping companies" adherence to strict guidelines promulgated by the Maritime Industry Authority and the International Maritime Organization," the DFA said Monday."In their participation at meetings to combat piracy in the IMO, the United Nations and other fora, Philippine government officials have been advocating the importance of promoting the safety of Filipino seamen. This advocacy is being supported by other governments," it also said.A total of 26 Filipino seamen on board three foreign-flagged vessels are still being held by pirates in east Africa."The longest one in detention is a crew member of the MV Iceberg 1, which was hijacked by pirates on Jan. 29, 2010 off the Port of Aden in Yemen," the DFA disclosed.Between 2006 and 2011, a total of 769 sailors from the Philippines were seized by pirates operating in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. It is believed that all ...

Accessibility to Chinese ports - domestic ship owners strongly protested the arrival of the vessel Two of the world's biggest iron ore carriers are due to arrive in the Philippines for the first time next month, shipping data showed, as Brazilian mining giant Vale looks to use the country as an alternative base to reach Chinese ports.China, the world's largest iron ore importer and Vale's top market, has yet to fully open its seaports to the giant vessels after domestic ship owners strongly protested the arrival of the first and only vessel of the type into the country in late December.With accessibility to Chinese ports uncertain, Vale has been forced to rely on its transshipment hub in the Philippines, a costlier alternative that involves employing more vessels and workers."I'm not surprised that Vale is sending its ships to the Philippines. They have no choice with China's ports still closed off to them," said a Singapore-based ship broker."They have to keep these ships moving or face major losses." The 400,000-deadweight-tonne Vale China is due to arrive in Subic Bay Freeport, located in the Philippines' main Luzon island, on Feb. 22, shipping data showed.That is 10 days after similar-sized Vale Brasil is ...

A significant move by the world's largest crew supply country Commenting on today's official International Labour Organization acknowledgement that the Republic of the Philippines has formally ratified ILO Convention 185 on seafarers' identity documents, ITF seafarers section secretary Jon Whitlow said:"This is significant news. This move by the world's largest crew supply country sends a strong signal to nations worldwide that seafarers' rights to shore leave and safe transit must be respected. At the same time the intention of the convention to enhance security has also been carried forward." For more on the convention see http://www.ilo.org/ilolex/cgi-lex/convde.pl?C185Source: ITF

All 14 crewmembers of a Panamanian cargo vessel are safe All 14 crewmembers of a Panamanian cargo vessel carrying 9,900.7 metric tons of iron one from Leyte bound for mainland China were rescued 34 nautical miles southeast of Binorong Point Catanduanes, the Coast Guard district office said.Capt. Leopoldo Laroya, district commander, said M/V Sun Spirits of Panamanian registry was owned by Yokohama Manning.At 1 p.m. Saturday, it sent distress signals as it was listing due to rough seas in the Pacific Ocean. The crew included Captain Park Cheol Fon and a fellow Korean along with 12 Indonesian nationals.At 9:20 a.m. Sunday, MV Oriental Xanadu picked up 11 people on a life boat east of Rapu-rapu Island in Albay. Three others were rescued by an unidentified fishing boat that brought them to to the Coast Guard in Virac.Source: Seatrade Asia

Senator Edgardo Angara pressed for the improvement For many decades seafarers from the Philippines have been the backbone of the global maritime industry. Almost every other ship plying the world's seaways has some form or other of Filipino content within its hull. So much so that a joke does the rounds of nautical circles that should one go to any ship berthed at a harbor anywhere in the world and shout "Jun" a Filipino would pop his head over the deck!But the unfolding tragic drama last week of the sinking of the Costa Concordia in usually safe waters off the coast of Italy - and in a ship (and, indeed, a shipping company) that employs hundreds of Filipino seamen - has brought home the importance of sound maritime education, especially in the area of safety out at sea.Ironically, not too long ago, Senator Edgardo Angara, Chair of the Senate Committee on Education, Culture and the Arts, pressed for the improvement of the country's maritime education and training following reports that Filipino seafarers are at risk of being banned from European Union ships.The EU is set to announce next month whether the Philippines is complying with the International Convention on Standards ...