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”.