A GROUP of seafarers urged the Maritime Industry Association to investigate the financial condition of a large crewing agency based in Manila that deploys thousands of seafarers to cruise ships and oil tankers in Europe and the Americas.
The seafarers complain that their deployment this December is being endangered by the situation of the company, which they asked not to be identified for fear that their pending contracts may be nullified by the possible closure of the firm.
Since the Marina is mandated by Republic Act 10635 to keep watch over the training and deployment of seafarers, the group urged Marina Administrator Marcial Amaro to act on the matter.
They said Amaro, himself a former seafarer and maritime agency executive, may already know of the matter since it is already well-known in the maritime industry.
Most employees of the firm denied any irregularity in the company and said the company’s financial difficulties are only because of uncertainties in the global maritime market.
But a company official admitted that aside from the usual industry problems, the crewing agency, which is one of the largest in the industry, is indeed experiencing difficulties arising from an ongoing dispute among company shareholders and executives.
He said the dispute involves one of the company’s shareholders who also serves as the company’s chief financial officer, whom he asked not to be identified for fear of its consequences to the firm and its client seafarers.
The official said directors of the firm are up in arms over how the male CFO has personally spent close to P6 million to maintain an adulterous relationship that is scandalizing the maritime industry.
Aside from the financial difficulties of the crewing agency, the official said the concerned CFO is also facing adultery charges from the husband of the CFO’s girlfriend which could ruin the international reputation of the company.
Moreover, the CFO is allegedly paying for the legal fees of his girlfriend and some directors have expressed suspicion that he is using company funds for the purpose.
The official welcomed an investigation of the Marina since hundreds of seafarers who are already set to leave this month may lose their contracts if the company’s financial situation is not straightened out.