AsiaOperations

Call to establish Admiralty Court in Manila to counter ‘floating coffins’

United Filipino Seafarers (UFS), a Manila-based crew advocacy group, has called on the government to establish an Admiralty Court.

The Philippines has one of the worst maritime safety records in the world and is also beset by high levels of corruption.

UFS president Nelson Ramirez said an Admiralty Court could pursue action against officials in regulatory bodies such as the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) found not to be doing their duties properly.

Corruption in issuing certificates for ships across the archipelago, Ramirez said, has created a fleet of “floating coffins”.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.
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