The country’s first ship-to-ship (STS) transfer operations for liquefied natural gas (LNG) by China’s Jovo Group Company Ltd. Guandong (JOVO) started operations here Thursday (April 27), the first major investment in the Freeport under the Duterte Administration.

The 105,335-ton Malaysian-flagged Seri Bakti, which arrived from Australia, is now anchored in Subic Bay and has just completed transferring an initial load of LNG to feeder vessel S/S Polar Spirit, a 72,524-ton Bahamas-flagged vessel.

S/S Seri Bakti skippered by Capt. Sydney De Silveira, is operated by MISC group, a leading provider of energy-related maritime solutions and services.

On the other hand, Polar Spirit is operated by Teekay Gas Service and is under the command of Capt. Nenad Bezic.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma Amy Eisma said Seri Bakti is among the largest gas carriers operating for maritime transport.

“Because of the depth of our port, Subic Bay could accommodate this gigantic vessel, or any other super-size ship for that matter,” Eisma explained.

The ship-to-ship transfer operations involves a large mother vessel loaded with LNG and anchored off-shore, and smaller vessels that will bring the cargo to ports of destination where bigger ships are not allowed to anchor due to maritime issues.

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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Asian triathlon heavyweights Japan and Hong Kong split top honors in the open elite division Sunday in the NTT-ASTC Subic Bay International Triathlon at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.

Japanese Ryosuke Maeda, ranked in the Top 10 back home, ruled the men’s race in 1:53.59 while HK bet Yan Yin Hilda Choi won the distaff side in 2:10.02.

Despite difficulties coping with the heat and humidity, Maeda said he expected to win the race that started at the ACEA beach resort and ended at the oval track of Remy Field.

Choi, on the other hand, said: “It was a nice race, good swim and I had a good bike pack with Claire setting the pace which helped us a lot.”

The HK lass was referring to Claire Adorna who set the pace in swimming and cycling before fading to eighth place.

Asian Triathlon Confederation president Justin Park and Legazpi Mayor Noel Rosal were on hand to award the trophies to the winners of the event organized by the Triathlon Association of the Philippines (TRAP) in cooperation with the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA).

Korean Ji Hwan Kim finished second behind Maedan with a time of 1: 54.44 while another Japanese, Kotaro Watanabe, took third place in 1:55.59.

Rounding out the top five finishers were Korean Seung Hun Seo (1: 56.39) and Japanese Genta Uchida (1:56.45).

John Chicano was the best-placed Filipino followed by Mark Hosana and 2015 Southeast Asian Games champion Nikko Huelgas. All three, however, failed to land in the Top 10.

In the women’s race, Kim Mangrobang finished fifth behind four foreigners. (Manila Bulletin)

Source: subicnewslink.blogspot.com

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For “starting the trouble” in the Freeport’s Marine Park, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma T. Eisma has denounced Scott N. Sharpe, a disgruntled stockholder and former employee who led the forcible physical takeover in February of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI), operator of Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort in Subic Bay.

Eisma told Subic Bay News that when trouble erupted anew at Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort on Monday afternoon, April 3, Sharpe called her and accused her of not doing enough to address the situation.

“How can you allow this to happen? Why is this happening in Subic?” Eisma quoted Sharpe as telling her, to which, she said, she retorted: “How dare you! You started it all!”

“This would not have happened if you followed the rule of law in the first place,” Eisma told Sharpe, “you should have gone to court and tried to settle it out there and filed for a writ of possession, not takeover without a court order… like in the wild wild west!”

Tensions again ran high on Monday afternoon, lasting through midnight, when Bureau of Immigration (BI) personnel went to the marine park to arrest Sharpe based on a mission order signed by Commissioner Jaime H. Morente for alleged immigration violations.

Having learned of an impending arrest of Sharpe and fearing a resulting vacuum in the operation of Ocean Adventure and Camayan Hotel, some 300 displaced employees loyal to Tai went to the marine park in several buses, apparently to assume their former positions in the company.

However, for unknown reasons, BI agents Adonis P. Porpetcho and Isidro Jonathan Tayag failed to complete their mission and succumbed to the defiant Sharpe’s refusal to go with them to the BI headquarters in Manila. Sharpe offered, instead, to present himself to the BI Hq. the next day.

This emboldened employees working for Sharpe, including many new hires, thus, the resulting stand-off that saw sporadic verbal tussles and near clashes. Both groups claim that the other committed illegal acts and at least three (3) persons were temporarily detained at the Morong, Bataan Police Station after the eight-hour stand-off.

Sharpe has not responded to email queries sent to him by Subic Bay News.

Employees of Ocean Adventure and Camayan Hotel opposed to the occupation of the marine park by Scott N. Sharpe, in a huddle with Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI) President Arthur D. Tai at the parking lot of the Subic Bay Gym after the 8-hour stand-off on the chaotic night of April 3, 2017. SubicBayNews photo by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr.

It can be recalled that shortly before midnight on February 13, 2017, Sharpe, along with personnel of a non SBMA accredited security agency, backed by PNP Special Action Forces (SAF), forced their way into Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort, claiming to have a court order which later turned out to be untrue.

Sharpe has since declared that he has assumed being company president, chief executive officer (CEO) and chairman of the Board of Directors, replacing President & CEO Arthur D. Tai and Board Chairman Dr. Robert Braun, who were both out of the country at the time.

Dr. Braun and Tai, who has since returned to the country, have refused to recognize Sharpe’s management, issuing statements that affirm their continued management of SBMEI with the concurrence of the Board.

The dispute stems from the alleged violation of the terms of the Voting Trust Agreements (VTA) between Tai, Sharpe and a couple of other stockholders, which a local court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Despite having no physical presence at Ocean Adventure and Camayan Hotel since Feb. 13, 2017, official SBMA and Security & Exchange Commission (SEC) records show that Tai remains the President & CEO of SBMEI.

Banks refuse to recognize Sharpe for lack of legal personality leaving him no access to the company’s bank accounts, relying merely on day-to-day cash transactions to fund operations and employees salaries, which at times appear insufficient.

Meanwhile, the some 300 or so employees who have opted not to work for Sharpe because of loyalty to Tai and, others, for fear of harassment, continue to receive their full salaries.

Tai took the helm of SBMEI in 2014, at a time when it was in the brink of bankruptcy, according to Investor Relations Officer Wayne W. DeCamp III, “due to inability to service debt” that ran up to some P200 M, “inability to pay salaries with many employees below statutory minimum wage… and inability to maintain and repair capital assets, degrading infrastructure and diversion of CapEx.”

DeCamp, in his Sept. 2016 report said that under the management of Tai, SBMEI, through Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort, recorded in “FY 2014-2015 (the) highest grossing year in company history (PhP488.4 million).

Tai has vowed to soon retake possession of Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort with respect to the rule of law, not for his own sake, he said, but in consideration of the hundreds of employees and their families relying on him and the company.

Source: subicbaynews.net

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – At least 268 displaced employees of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI), operators of Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort here, have filed charges before the Dept. of Labor (DOLE) against disgruntled stockholder Scott N. Sharpe who led a group of armed men to forcibly takeover the marine theme park last February.

“More employees are set to file their complaints against Mr. Sharpe, on top of the 268 which have already filed as of Friday last week,” said Grace Espinosa, human resources (HR) manager of SBMEI, one of the complainants, “there could be over 300 of us.”

Identified to be loyal to SBMEI President; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arthur D. Tai, the complainants have been issued either suspension or termination notices, Espinosa said.

Close to 300 SBMEI employees working at Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort has filed charges before the National Labor Relations Commission of the Dept. of Labor against Scott N. Sharpe who forcibly took over the marine park in February 13, 2017, resulting to their displacement. SubicBayNews photo by Vic V. Vizcocho, Jr.

“More employees are set to file their complaints against Mr. Sharpe, on top of the 268 which have already filed as of Friday last week,” said Grace Espinosa, human resources (HR) manager of SBMEI, one of the complainants, “there could be over 300 of us.”

Identified to be loyal to SBMEI President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arthur D. Tai, the complainants have been issued either suspension or termination notices, Espinosa said.

Sharpe is being charged with the labor violations, not SBMEI, because despite having taken physical control of Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort, the SBMEI Board of Directors, led by Chairman Dr. Robert C. Braun, has refused to recognize him (Sharpe) and issued a declaration on April 7, 2017 that Tai remains the legitimate head of SBMEI.

The charges filed against Sharpe by the displaced employees at DOLE’s National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in Pampanga include illegal dismissal, illegal suspension, non-payment of salaries, wages and other benefits, among others.

Among the complainants, Archie N. Asio, 37, is the longest serving employee with 15 years of service. “Twenty-two years old pa lang ako nasa Ocean Adventure na ako tapos ginaganito lang? Nasaan ang puso mo, Mr. Sharpe,” Asio said in an interview with Subic Bay News.

Jose E. Balingit at 59-years-old, is the oldest of the complainants, mainly breadwinners, with quite a number of single parents who have no other means to support their children.

“Paano na ang tatlo (3) kong anak,” said Liza Joy N. Jimenez, 36, a single mom who has been with the company for seven (7) years.

Tai, who said he seeks to retake Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort soon  “with respect to the rule of law”, has been giving financial support to the employees for the past two (2) months out of his personal funds.

Since the February 13, 2017 takeover, criminal cases have also been filed, with both camps accusing each other of various offenses, ranging from theft, physical injuries to grave threats.

Subic Bay News has not received any response from the camp of Sharpe regarding the issue as of this writing.

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma T. Eisma has condemned Sharpe’s takeover for being “clearly not in accordance with lawful proper procedures…”, also slamming Sharpe for “starting the problem” which could have been avoided had he only followed legal procedures.

However, Eisma is extra careful not to interfere with what she says an “intra-corporate” dispute, and lately, has met with both parties separately to try to find an acceptable solution.

Meanwhile, the some 300 displaced employees and their families have been suffering for the past two months, hoping against hope that the NLRC would act swiftly and decisively to address their predicament.

Source: subicbaynews.net

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SUBIC BAY FREEPORT – Arthur D. Tai is the legitimate and duly recognized President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI), according to the company’s Board of Directors.

Ribbon cutting at Ocean Adventure for improvements accomplished in 2016 which included renovation of the Ilanin Bay Café, facilities for employees, purchase of much needed equipment for the care of animals, among others. (From left to right) Subic Bay Marine Exploratorium, Inc. (SBMEI) Chairman of the Board Dr. Robert Braun, Stockholder Dawn Tai, Sr. Park Operations Director Wines Dy-Mariano and P/CEO Arthur D. Tai. In the face of disgruntled stockholder Scott N. Sharpe’s forcible takeover of SBMEI, the Board of Directors recently issued a declaration assailing Sharpe, and in support and recognition of Arthur D. Tai. (Ocean Adventure photo)

“We… hereby declare our full support and recognition of SBMEI President and CEO Mr. Arthur D. Tai,” the board of directors said in a declaration issued on Friday, April 7.

“Since February 13, 2017, when Mr. Scott N. Sharpe forcibly and unlawfully took over our company under cover of darkness, without a court order and/or writ of execution, and assisted by over 70 armed thugs,” the SBMEI Board Declaration said, “we have been silently working behind the scenes… to resolve this matter believing that the rule of law will eventually prevail and concerned Philippine Authorities will set matters right.”

“However, recent events have made it incumbent upon us to take a more active stand against Mr. Scott N. Sharpe and his cohorts who still illegally occupy our company,” said the SBMEI board declaration signed by Chairman of the Board Dr. Robert C. Braun and Directors Gen. Darlene M. Goff, Susan S. Walker and Arthur D. Tai.

The board declaration also slammed Sharpe who, they said, “maligned our integrity and reputation by falsely claiming that achievements made in the last two years were due to the efforts of his ‘current management.,’…clearly a lie and an attempt to claim the accomplishments of our employees under the stewardship of Mr. Tai, as his own.”

Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator Wilma T. Eisma has condemned Sharpe’s takeover but, citing she doesn’t want the SBMA to be drawn into an “intra-corporate dispute,” has distanced herself, saying if the parties fail to resolve the matter among themselves, SBMA might ask the court to intervene.

SBMEI operates Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort in Subic, where tension erupted anew on April 3 when, according to the declaration, ““Sharpe again displayed his complete disregard for the rule of law and Philippine authorities by refusing to submit to a valid Mission Order being implemented by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration for culpable violations of Philippine laws.”

Some 300 employees, displaced because of their continuing recognition of Tai as the legitimate company President & CEO, eagerly tried to return to work with the impending removal of Sharpe but were instead “treated like common criminals, verbally abused, manhandled, frisked and searched before they were allowed to leave,” lamented the declaration.

Tai took the helm of SBMEI in 2014, at a time when it was in the brink of bankruptcy, according to Investor Relations Officer Wayne W. DeCamp III, “due to inability to service debt” that ran up to some P200 M, “inability to pay salaries with many employees below statutory minimum wage… and inability to maintain and repair capital assets, degrading infrastructure and diversion of CapEx.”

DeCamp, in his Sept. 2016 report said that under the management of Tai, SBMEI, through Ocean Adventure and Camayan Resort, recorded in “FY 2014-2015 (the) highest grossing year in company history (PhP488.4 million).

The dispute stems from the alleged violation of the terms of the Voting Trust Agreements (VTA) between Tai, Sharpe and a couple of other stockholders, which a local court dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.

Sharpe, at first claimed to have a “Court Order” to take over the SBMEI facilities but later said he doesn’t need one. He has maintained that his takeover was in accordance with law, but the SBMEI Board disagrees.

“Mr. Tai has worked tirelessly and at great personal sacrifice to bring about the lawful return to company premises out of the belief that the employees deserve as a basic human right a secure and healthy working environment, not one of cronyism, intimidation and abuse,” the SBMEI board said, “Employees and managers have stood in solidarity with him in this belief and we are proud to do the same.”

Source: subicbaynews.net

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