POEA Warns PHL Seafarers vs. ‘Samoa Int’l. Maritime Authority’
Filipino seafarers were warned Friday against a “fraudulent” entity engaged in the registration of international vessels and seafarers, using an official-sounding name.
The Philippine Overseas Employment Administration said the entity, “Samoa International Maritime Authority (SIMA),” is not connected with the Samoan government.
POEA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac said Samoa’s Embassy in Tokyo already issued a note verbale saying SIMA’s operations “are fraudulent, illegal, and do not in any way represent its government.”
Cacdac cited information indicating SIMA is operating through the website www.maritimesamoa.com out of Thailand and the United Kingdom using the name, flag and crest of the Independent State of Samoa.
He added the Ministry for Transport of Samoa has also declared that SIMA is “engaged in illicit activities and has misrepresented the sovereignty” of Samoa.