GLOBAL shipping stakeholders identify ambulance chasing and the Philippines' mishandling of crew claims as the biggest threats to Philippine seafaring — an industry that remits $6 billion annually into the Philippines. The market share of Filipino crew has shown a steady decline of 50 percent in a short span of 20 years. In 2000, Filipinos consisted about 28.5 percent or more than a quarter of the global seafarer population onboard ships. However, in 2020, Filipino seafarers are down to only 14 percent. Foreign shipowners and the International Maritime Employers Council (IMEC) have fearlessly forecasted that Filipino seafarers can disappear from the market in the next 10 years despite previously enjoying the privilege of being the seafarer of choice. Over the past 10 years, Filipino seafarers have displayed relentless litigiousness fueled by ambulance chasers who prowl post-medical clinics, airports and streets to find potential seafarer claimants.
