Philippine authorities collaborated with local crewing agencies to resolve a pay dispute involving a crew stranded on a cargo ship in the Iloilo Strait. The crew, signed on in April, faced issues with the ship’s owners over unpaid wages and provisions, citing the vessel’s unseaworthiness. Newly elected Iloilo City representative Julienne “Jam Jam” Baronda intervened, leading to the removal of six Filipino crew members on June 30 for medical evaluation and repatriation, while seven Indian crew members were scheduled to leave on July 1.
The 6,749 dwt general cargo ship, originally operated by Chinese owners, had recently been flagged as the Hirman Star under new ownership in the UAE. The vessel arrived in the Philippines in August 2024 carrying rice from Vietnam but was detained following a Port State Inspection that revealed 27 deficiencies and expired certificates. The current crew had boarded on April 3 and were preparing to sail to Singapore when a malfunction in the gyro compass led to safety concerns.
The standoff began when the crew refused to sail due to the ship’s condition, prompting the owners to halt food and water deliveries. After negotiations facilitated by Baronda, an agreement was reached to settle the pay issues and provide provisions. The Philippine government is also offering financial aid to the Filipino crew, while the Indian Embassy is assisting their nationals. The International Transport Workers’ Federation has raised alarms about increasing crew abandonment cases, urging for stronger enforcement of labor contracts.
