pinoy seafarers' rights: AHOY training of the International Christiian Maritime Association (#ICMA)

#InternationalChristiianMaritimeAssociation (#ICMA) delegates of #AHOY Training and Immersion Course

The International Christiian Maritime Association (#ICMA) held its #AHOY Training and Immersion Course from Sept. 24 – Oct. 2 2016 in Manila that allowed participants (ship visitors and port based welfare providers) to gain a first-hand knowledge of #Filipinoseafarers’ social and cultural background and other institutions in the Filipino maritime sector.

ICMA is a free association of 28 Christian not-for-profit organisations working for the welfare of seafarers.These twenty-eight organisations represent various Christian churches and communities. Each member organisation retains its independence and autonomy. ICMA defines seafarers as people who work in merchant shipping, fishing and on passenger ships. Through its members, ICMA currently represents 526 seafarers’ centres and 927 chaplains in 126 countries.

An initial survey of those attending the course in Manila estimates that between 70,000 – 100,000 Filipino seafarers a year are being served directly by this particular group of port based welfare workers. Ship visiting, engagement with seafarers in seafarers’ centres, and providing communications and transportation are part of this daily interaction to benefit Filipinos and all seafarers away from home.

Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) data showed that there are 44L,826 Filipino seafarers with POEA approved contract deployed in 2014. On the other hand, , the deployed seafarers in 2015 brought in US$5,792,459,000 as dollar remittances. The seabased sector’s remittance comprise at least 22% of the total dollar remittances of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). However, away from his family and working on board vessels sailing non-stop for weeks or months the world’s oceans, the Filpino seafarer is physically, mentally and emotionally stressed. Constantly exposed to fluctuating temperatures caused by variant weather changes of extreme hot and cold as the ships cross ocean boundaries, not to mention harsh weather conditions, the risks of his getting killed, injured or ill are high.

The cultural immersion course in Manila aimed to provide welfare workers with a with the opportunity to learn more about the world of Filipino seafarers for a better informed perspective for improving services to all Filipino seafarers in their care .

The author delivered a lecture on different legal matters of the Filipino seafarers which basically involves five issues : illegal recruitment, illegal dismissal, non-payment and underpayment of salaries and wages, disability benefits due to injury or illness and death benefits. Other speakers include Archbishop of Manila Luis Antonio Tagle, and from the public and private sectors.

Participants likewise attended the 21st National Seafarers Day and visited various dormitories and the Luneta Seafarers Welfare Foundation (LUSWELF) in kalaw, luneta.

ICMA members render welfare services to many Filipino seafarers nothwithstanding the 2015 report of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) on the manpower situation in the global shipping industry. Globally, there are 1,647,500 seafarers inclusive of both officers and ratings. Despite the large number Filipino ratings, the country only ranks number two—next to China—as the world’s largest provider of seafarers across all ranks.China is now ranked as number one supplier of officers while the Philippines is the top source for ratings.

The list of participants came from the following organizations in various ports:

1. Apostolatus Maris / Apostleship of the Sea (AM / AOS) - United Kingdom, Thailand, Spain, Brazil, Uruguay, Ukraine, Japan, Philippines

2. Biblia Harbour Mission - South Africa

3. Danske Sømands- og Udlandskirker -

2,. Deutsche Seemannsmission e.V. (DSM) German Seaman Mission - Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Hongkong, Greece

3. Mission to Seafarers (MtS) - Australia, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, USA, India, Japan

4. North American Maritime Ministry Association (NAMMA) - Canada, USA,

5. PCT Seamen’s/Fishermen’s Service Center - Taiwan

6. Sailors’ Society - Brazil, Philippines

7. Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN) - USA

8. Seemannsmission der Nordkirche - Germany

9. Seafarers Welfare Association - India