Maritime
(Participants in the discussions of the proposed Philippine Fishing Vessels Rules and Regulations
held in Manila from 6-9 February 2018. Seated (L-R) are MARINA Directors Engr. Marc Anthony P.
Pascua (Region 4); Engr. Rizal J. Victoria, (Region 6); Engr. Jose Venancio A. Vero II, (Region 7); Mr.
Roberto C. Arceo, CESO V, (Planning and Policy Service); Engr. Jaime B. Bea, (Region 1 & 2); and Mr.
Jeffrey A. Bangsa, (Enforcement Service). Not in photo are: Engr. Emmanuel B Carpio, (Region 8),
Mr. Arnulfo F. Atilano, (Region 9) and Atty. Manuel C Portus (Region 13)
MARINA FORMULATES
RULES FOR PHILIPPINE
FISHING VESSELS
T
he Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) convened a
4-day workshop that commenced on 06 February 2018
to formulate a separate regime for fishing vessels from
the existing merchant marine rules and regulations. The
workshop was attended by engineers, naval architects,
lawyers, planners, policy and relevant technical staff from
the different offices of the Agency nationwide.
“This effort is timely because fishing vessels have always been treated
like merchant ships in terms of their safety, construction and to some
extent their manning requirements. Our stakeholders in the fishing
industry have been pushing for this initiative for so long a time now,
especially those based in General Santos City and other parts of Southern
Philippines”, quipped Director Roberto C Arceo of the Planning and Policy
Service who organized and led the review.
“In balancing economic gains of our fishing operators, we also need to
ensure the safety and security of our fishermen”, Arceo added.
There are more or less 11,000 fishing boats that may be potentially
covered by these Rules.
Accordingly, the output of the workshop will serve as MARINA’s
counter proposal to the similar initiative of the Socsargen Federation of
Fishing and Allied Industries, Incorporated which submitted its version to
MARINA in 2017.
The proposed Rules will include, among others, the following
major parts: Registration, Documentation and Licensing of Fishing
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Vessels, Surveys and Certificates, Construction, Repairs, Conversion and
Rebuilding, Stability, Machinery Installations, Electrical Installations,
Safe Manning, Certification, Training and Watchkeeping for Fishermen,
Tonnage Measurement, Life Saving Appliances, Fire Protection, Fire
Extinction and Fire Safety Measures, Communications, Safety of
Navigation, Occupational Safety and
Health, Environment, Handline Fishing Boats, and Marine Investigation
and Disciplinary Proceedings.
Arceo said that the MARINA will embark into series of nationwide
public consultations with partner agencies and interested stakeholders
in the coming months and hopes to submit this proposed measure to
the MARINA Board for consideration before the Annual Tuna Congress in
September this year.
marina.gov.ph
“This effort is timely because fishing vessels have
always been treated like merchant ships in terms
of their safety, construction and to some extent
their manning requirements. Our stakeholders in
the fishing industry have been pushing for this
initiative for so long a time now, especially those
based in General Santos City and other parts of
Southern Philippines”, quipped Director Roberto
C Arceo of the Planning and Policy Service who
organized and led the review.