Philippine labor agency orders Atienza vessels to halt operations over safety violations

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Philippine ferry safety halt

Highlights

Department of Labor and Employment ordered a work stoppage for six Atienza Interisland Ferries vessels on Oct. 12 due to lacking workplace safety programs and designated safety officers.
Atienza Interisland Ferries must address safety deficiencies by Oct. 23 or face penalties up to P100,000, with vessels barred from operating and employee wages mandated during stoppage.
The directive follows a September 9 fire aboard MV June Aster that resulted in 77 deaths, with related investigations citing labor law and occupational safety violations.

Inspection findings and compliance deadline

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, the Department of Labor and Employment has ordered a work stoppage covering six vessels operated by Atienza Interisland Ferries, Inc. after inspectors found deficiencies in workplace safety programs, designated safety personnel, and emergency preparedness measures.

The order, issued by DoLE-National Capital Region on Oct. 12, follows a labor inspection conducted on Oct. 10 at Navotas Fish Port in Navotas City. DoLE-NCR Regional Director Roy Buenafe said the company lacked a required occupational safety and health program, designated safety officers, and an emergency preparedness module.

The directive covers MV November Cattleya, MV December Poinsettia, MV September Tulips, MV October Lavender, MC Star San Carlos, and MV May Lillies. The vessels are not allowed to resume operations until the identified deficiencies are addressed, and the agency has given the company until Oct. 23 to comply or face possible administrative penalties of up to P100,000.

The order is issued under Rule VI of Department Order No. 238, Series of 2023, pursuant to Article 128 of the Labor Code and Republic Act No. 11058, or the Occupational Safety and Health Standards Law. Inspection records show the six vessels are registered under the Port of Batangas City, with passenger capacities ranging from 152 to 530.

Operational and industry implications

DoLE-NCR also directs the company to continue paying the wages of affected employees during the work stoppage, citing Article 128(c) of the Labor Code. The order states that workers must be paid during the period covered by the stoppage because the violations are attributable to the employer.

The directive follows a fire aboard another Atienza-operated vessel, MV June Aster, on Sept. 9 while it was traveling from Batangas to Coron, Palawan. Authorities say the incident leaves 77 people dead and eight others missing, while a separate DoLE investigation into that vessel identifies labor and occupational safety violations, including alleged underpayment of wages and deficiencies in safety programs and emergency response plans.

Authorities are also investigating the circumstances surrounding the fire, including reports concerning the loading of dangerous cargo and the vessel's clearance to sail despite a reported mechanical problem. The investigation into the September fire remains separate from the work stoppage order covering the six other vessels.

Our earlier article on Black Sea shipping risks detailed how two chemical tankers caught fire in Romanian waters near the Danube canal approach, leaving crew members missing and complicating rescue efforts. We noted that the incidents came amid a wider spike in attacks on commercial vessels linked to the Russia-Ukraine war, raising concerns about the security of a key corridor for regional commodity flows, including grain exports.

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