Discover the Hirman-Star: Ratings & Maritime News

Philippine authorities are actively collaborating with local crewing agencies to assist a group of seafarers who found themselves in a precarious situation aboard the ‘Hirman Star’. This vessel, which has been anchored in the Iloilo Strait near Iloilo City at coordinates 10° 42' N 122° 36' E, has become a focal point of a pay dispute that left the crew stranded. The crew members, who signed on April 3, 2025, have engaged in a standoff with the ship's owners, who have withheld wages and essential provisions until the ship sets sail, while the crew asserts that the vessel is unseaworthy. Julienne 'Jam Jam' Baronda, the newly elected representative for Iloilo City, has taken a keen interest in this issue, stepping in to mediate the situation. On June 30, six Filipino crew members were successfully evacuated from the ship and relocated to a hotel where they underwent medical evaluations and debriefing in preparation for their repatriation. Among these crew members, three hailed from the Iloilo towns of Tigbauan, San Joaquin, and Estancia. Additionally, the seven Indian crew members planned to depart the vessel on July 1. The crew had been initially employed by what appears to be a new set of owners, following a history of operation under Chinese ownership until around 2024. Presently registered in the Comoros, the Hirman Star arrived in the Philippines in August 2024 with a cargo of rice bags from Vietnam. A comprehensive Port State Inspection conducted by Philippine authorities identified 27 deficiencies across various categories, resulting in a detention order and questioning the vessel’s seaworthiness due to expired certificates. After two crew changes, the current team was assigned in April and was allegedly preparing for a voyage to Singapore when complications arose, including a malfunctioning gyro compass. The captain reported that owners ordered the ship to navigate using only a magnetic compass, a directive the captain refused, raising safety concerns. In addition, the crew indicated issues with the ship listing, which was exacerbated by a discovered crack in the bulbous bow that allowed water ingress. The dire situation escalated when owners ceased food and water deliveries on May 12 and delayed full payment of wages, only partially compensating the crew in April. Seeking assistance, the crew reached out to Rep. Baronda on June 28. She organized a meeting on June 30 involving the Department of Migrant Workers, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Philippine Coast Guard, as well as the Bureau of Immigration and Customs, and MARINA, to address the escalating crisis. Baronda also communicated with crewing agencies and a representative of the owner's UAE interests. A settlement was agreed upon to resolve pay disputes and promptly supply necessary provisions to the Hirman Star. Baronda and other officials visited the ship to support the crew, while the Philippines extended financial assistance and repatriation planning for the Filipinos, with the Indian Embassy providing support to the Indian sailors. For more detailed coverage and photos, visit: https://www.manilatimes.net/2025/07/02/regions/13-stranded-seafarers-rescued-after-2-months/2141308.