THREE vessels whose crews included Chinese sailors were found to have committed multiple violations during recent inspections at the Manila Anchorage area, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported yesterday.
The PCG, in a statement, said the inspections were conducted last March 20 in line with President Marcos Jr.’s order to “strengthen the country’s maritime security and domain awareness.”
The inspections were conducted by personnel from the PCG, Bureau of Immigration, Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Labor and Employment and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (MARINA).
Inspected were Philippine-flagged vessels MV Huagan 98 and MV An Da Kang 3689 and Chinese-flagged MV Shingping 007, all aggregate carriers.
“Authorities found no Chinese nationals onboard (MV Huagan 98). However, a vessel calendar indicated the presence of seven Chinese crew members as of 19 March 2025,” the PCG said.
It said a review of MV Huagan’s logbook showed eight Chinese nationals “mysteriously disembarked before dawn” last March 20.
“Despite existing MARINA regulations limiting foreign crew members to supernumerary roles for a single voyage without prolonged stay onboard, all Chinese nationals were assigned official designations,” the PCG said.
It said there were “misrepresentation issues” involving the vessel and the shipping company is due to be summoned.
“The vessel’s master denied the presence of Chinese nationals, contradicting logbook records,” it added.
The PCG said missing Domestic Shipping Operation Certificate and a non-functional closed-circuit television system “raised safety and security concerns.”
On MV An Da Kang 3689, the PCG said nine Chinese nationals were “improperly assigned as crew members, despite MARINA regulations allowing only supernumeraries for knowledge transfer.”
It also said the Chinese crew members were authorized only to work in Zambales but operated in Manila waters.
“The crew failed to follow proper turnover procedures, with outgoing personnel abandoning their posts before the arrival of replacements; and the vessel lacked a valid Domestic Shipping Operation Certificate,” the PCG added.
On MV Shingping 007, the PCG said 12 Chinese crew members were given the designation “technicians” and these did not match their Alien Employment Permits (AEP).
“DOLE has warned that this discrepancy could lead to the revocation of their AEPs,” the PCG said.
“The vessel mirrored the same manning irregularities found onboard MV An Da Kang 3689,” the PCG added.
The PCG said it remains steadfast in the implementation of Philippine maritime laws.
“Appropriate legal actions will be pursued against the erring shipping companies, and vessel operators found violating labor and immigration policies,” it said.
It said the conduct of the inspections “stresses the government’s unwavering commitment to maritime security, crew welfare, and regulatory enforcement within Philippine waters.”
