Why did the Panamanian-flag Double Prosperity run aground on 8th May 2011 in – of all places – Sarangani Bay in Mindanao, the southern Philippines? The 2005-built, 225m bulk carrier, managed by Yano Kaiun Co Ltd of Japan, was supposed to be India-bound from Australia laden with coal when she skidded across Bakud Reef. (more…)
We recently had the privilege of watching 81-year-old Filipino maritime lecturer Michael B Cuanzon in action. He was conducting a competency assessment class at the National Telecommunications Commission as part of the IMO model course 3.12 for assessors offered by the state-run Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP). The man was up on his feet all afternoon, fielding questions from the participants and coaching them individually. His energy would put to shame many ship officers half his age, which is hardly surprising. Captain Cuanzon has as much passion for maritime education as for seafaring (his sea service spanned 18 years, the last seven in command of various types of ships). He still drives, by the way, in traffic-blighted Metro Manila. ~Barista Uno
Once in a while, you hear it from foreigners: why haven’t Filipinos gone beyond ship manning? A chap from Norway sprang the question to us recently but couched it in more diplomatic terms. When will the Philippines go big-time in the maritime industry? he asked. He cited the case of Norway, once a nation of poor seafarers that went on to become a major shipping player. “Not in a hundred years” was our reply. The man must have thought we were exaggerating. (more…)
Plans are afoot to revise the standard employment contract for Filipino seafarers so that they’d get, amongst other benefits, four-and-a-half months leave in lieu of the current 2 1/2. We can understand the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) wanting to play up to the lads in the Year of the Seafarer. But the whole idea is unenlightened, if not entirely doltish. (more…)
