Filipino seafarers are among the best in the world. There are more Filipino seafarers than any other country in the world. Filipinos are preferred over other nationalities because they are hardworking, highly skilled and motivated. These characteristics of Filipinos are typical.

As in the phrase “extreme power comes extreme responsibility”, a ship captain have the responsibility over everything in his ship. In recent events however, Filipino ship captains are not in a very good position at all.

In 2009, a Filipino ship captain caused the worst environmental disaster in Queensland, Australia. In 2011, another Filipino ship captain will be causing another environmental disaster in New Zealand. The occurrence of both ships are similar, they battled severe weather conditions at sea.

These environmental disasters are being flagged as caused by ships skippered by Filipinos have negative impacts on the Filipino seafarers industry. The cleanup in Queensland caused millions of dollars and the same will be spent in New Zealand.

This bad publicity is a reality that every Filipino OFW must accept. Some way, some how, every OFW will feel its impact.