Newspapers reported that on March 6, 2018, at 15:20.m GMT, a large fire broke out aboard the Maersk Honam while the ship was in the Arabian Sea, resulting in the death of two Filipino cadets from Iloilo. On the other hand, the responsibilities of the cadet, including, among others, (a) the completion and successful completion of the on-board training program within the specified time frame (b) the performance of all tasks, tasks, certain tasks and compliance with the requirements, regulations, policies and procedures of the ship; (c) behave in an orderly and respectful manner towards fellow ships, passengers, shippers, longshoremen, port authorities and other persons officially operating with the ship. The objective of the agreement essentially includes (a) recognition that the cadet is a student of marine education; (b) give the cadet the opportunity to be trained on board the ship in accordance with the rules of the Higher Education Commission (CSE) and (c) ensure the safety and well-being of the cadet during the training period until the cadet`s return. The Standard Cadet Training Agreement on Ships Engaged in International Voyage entered into force on 25 August 2013 to ensure compliance with the requirements of the MLC 2006 to safeguard the rights of sea cadets and the social protection of sea cadets during mandatory training on board. However, there is no such standard agreement for cadets on board barges. A cadet refers to a marine education student leading to a bachelor`s degree (BSMT or BSMarE) who must complete on-board training to meet the academic requirements of a marine degree or technical course. According to Article II(f) of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006, ship cadets are included in the definition of a `seafarer` as `any person employed or employed or working in any capacity on board a ship for whom ` this Convention shall apply; Incidents such as the sinking of the MV Starlite Atlantic and the recent death of the two motor cadets aboard the Maersk Honam raise the issue of cadet protection during training. On the morning of December 26, 2016, the MV Starlite Atlantic sank off Tingloy, Batangas, due to the onslaught of Typhoon Nina. Fourteen of the 33 crew members on board the ship have been rescued by the Philippine Coast Guard, while 18 others are still missing, including eleven (11) students trained since October. It almost mirrors the POEA`s Standard Seafarers` Employment Contract (SEC), which includes provisions on terms and conditions of employment, accommodation, leisure facilities, food and catering, welfare and social protection.

It also ordered the sponsoring company to provide the cadet with health protection and medical care in the event of illness, injury or training hazard or disease, injury or hazard that occurs during the term of the contract, as well as financial security to cover compensation for any permanent disability or death resulting therefrom. The youngest or his beneficiaries can receive up to fifty thousand DOLLARS ($50,000.00) as permanent disability or death benefits. Cadets must complete the training period aboard a real ship to expose students to the real-world applications of the concepts and techniques they learned in class. He is a legal commentator on maritime issues in print, radio and television. He is President of the Maritime Law Association of the Philippines (MARLAW) in 2016-17. Dennis R. Gorecho is a graduate of up College of Law and a junior partner at the law firm Sapalo Velez Bundang Bulilan (SVBB), which heads the Seafarers` Department. Under his leadership, the SVBB actively promotes seafarers` rights by organizing seminars throughout the year throughout the country to inform seafarers of their rights and legal measures to enforce them. He received his Bachelor of Economics (Dean`s Medal, 1991) and Bachelor of Laws (1998) from Diliman University, which was called to the Bar in April 1999. A co-host of the Radio show Bantay OCW Usapang Marino broadcast every Wednesday from 10:30 .m to 12:00 .m via Radio Inquirer. .