Working Conditions Aboard the New-Faith

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / January 21, 2023) — The arrival of the cargo ship TRUE FAITH, crewed entirely by 23 Syrian nationals, at a private port in Davao City on June 13 has prompted initial security concerns. Reports indicated that four crew members shared names with individuals on the government's terrorism watch list. However, both the Bureau of Immigration and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that these individuals have since been cleared. Lawyer Arnold Rosales, NBI's regional director, stated on Friday (January 20) that subsequent investigations revealed differing names and birth dates, with fingerprint checks showing no matches with the watch list. "The names are commonplace in Syria, akin to Juan Dela Cruz and other popular names in the Philippines," Rosales explained. While the crew has been cleared, questions remain surrounding the ship's shipping agent and consignee, leaving officials to investigate further.

In a strategic move to streamline its fleet, Genco Shipping & Trading, a prominent Greek maritime player, has announced the sale of two handysize bulk carriers. The vessels in question are the 1998-built Genco Sugar and the 1999-built Genco Pioneer, with the total sale price reaching $5.1 million. While the identities of the buyers remain undisclosed, Genco anticipates finalizing these transactions by the end of the fourth quarter. This divestment reflects Genco's ongoing strategy to optimize its operations in the competitive shipping industry.