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Stranded Pinoys to be repatriated

Arrangements were being finalized for the repatriation of the remaining 11 Filipinos who have been stranded in Dongshan Dao aboard the 'Ocean Star 86' for several months now due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said in a statement on Sep 25, 2020, in response to allegations made by Migrante International that the pleas of the 11 stranded seafarers who were reportedly forced to work under subhuman conditions have been “falling on deaf ears.” The plight of the Filipino seafarers was first brought to the attention of the Philippine Consulate in Xiamen on April 22 when it received a letter from a certain ‘Jake Cruz’ through the Philippine Embassy in Beijing. Upon receipt of the letter, the Consulate immediately contacted the distressed seafarers through their team leader to ascertain their working, physical and mental conditions. Packages containing ready-to-eat food and personal hygiene needs such as shampoo, soap and toothpaste were immediately prepared as requested by the Filipino crew. This week the care packages were sent to the seafarers when the Philippine Consulate General in Xiamen learned that the vessel was finally allowed to dock on Sep 22 without yet being permitted to disembark its crew. The Philippine Consulate General also made regular representations to Chinese authorities and ship owners for all Filipino seafarers stranded in the waters off the coast of Fujian province, including those on the 'Ocean Star 86' and other Chinese vessels so that they be paid their salaries and other allowances and was continuing to act on the needs of the 11 Pinoys. On Sep 24, the migrant workers’ group demanded the immediate repatriation of the 11 in Dongshan, China and sought the filing of charges against their employers for subjecting the Filipinos to “horrendous suffering.” Migrante further claimed that the contracts of the seafarers already expired in 2019 but they were reportedly “forced to drink seawater and fed inadequately for many months.”

Bunker spill in St. Petersburg

The "Coral Mermaid" spilt an unknown amount of fuel while bunkering from the "Gazpromneft Nordwest" in St. Petersburg on Oct 6, 2015, into the water. Both vessels were fenced by booms and 0,2 cubic meter of oily water have been collected. On Oct 8 the reefer left the port being bound for Flusshing, ETA Oct 11.