TIM eMagazine Vol.3 Issue 10
MARINA completes submission of proofs
of compliance with EMSA; intensifies
preps for IMO Independent Evaluation
for PH White Listing
T
he Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has completed
the submission of its proofs of compliance with the
European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) that aim to
close the gap of its noted areas of improvement in the
country’s maritime education, training and certification
system of Filipino seafarers.
Before 31 October 2018, the MARINA officially
transmitted the remaining pieces of evidence and
corrective actions that the Philippines has implemented in addressing
the findings noted in the European Commission (EC) Assessment Report
on the country’s maritime education, training, and certification system
conducted in March 2017.
These include amended legislations, inter-agency cooperation
initiatives, and good governance measures on the administration of
maritime education and training programs, assessment of seafarer
competence, and the issuance of Standards of Training, Certification, and
Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW) certificates.
Part of the major actions taken by the MARINA was the extensive
review and revision of seven (7) existing national legislations and
the development of six (6) training course packages, all ready for
implementation.
The MARINA also cited its active collaboration with the Commission
on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), and Philippine
Coast Guard (PCG), specifically in reviewing the existing policies,
standards, and guidelines governing the Bachelor of Science in Marine
Technology (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSME)
programs, as well as in evaluating the compliance of maritime higher
educational institutions (MHEIs) on the trainings and courses offered to
aspiring Filipino mariners.
Moreover, the MARINA highlighted in its submission Executive Order
No. 63, series of 2018 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations as a
manifestation of the government’s resolve to strengthen its authority as
the single maritime administration in giving full and complete effect to
the STCW Convention in the Philippines.
MARINA OIC Vice-Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr. is confident that the
agency’s proactive approach in responding to the challenges on the
country’s maritime education, training, and certification system will
ensure the continuous recognition of STCW certificates of Filipino marine
officers and country’s provision of leadership to EU-flagged vessels.
“This is how confident, serious, and committed we are in dealing with
the EMSA issue. Failure is not in our options,” Vice-Admiral Vingson said.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has intensified its efforts to prepare for the
Independent Evaluation on the country’s implementation of the STCW
Convention by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
The demonstration that the Philippines has given full and complete
effect to the STCW Convention assures that the country will remain in
the IMO white list, which means that Filipino seafarers and Philippine-
registered ships trading international waters are assured of seamless
movement from one port to another.
MARINA OIC Vice-Admiral Vingson has already constituted a Task Force
on STCW Mandatory Independent Evaluation which will be responsible
for the conduct of an Internal Audit / Self-Assessment on Philippine
compliance before the actual conduct of the said Independent Evaluation
between January to March in 2019.
The Philippines targets to submit its compliance report with the STCW
Convention to the IMO on or before September 2019. http://marina.gov.ph/
MARINA guarantees strict compliance
with re-admeasurement of PH-registered
domestic ships
T
he Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has guaranteed
the strict compliance of domestic shipping companies
with the rules, regulations, and policies on the re-
admeasurement of Philippine-registered domestic ships.
Currently, the MARINA - Shipyards Regulation Service
(MARINA - SRS) strictly implements the nationwide
internal audit on Tonnage Measurement System and Load
Line Assignment Systems of Ships, guided by the MARINA
Circular No. 2007-03, the MARINA Circular No. 2007-04 and the MARINA
Advisory No. 2012-11.
MARINA Circular No. 2007-03 provides rules and regulations for the
implementation, administration, and enforcement of load line survey,
assignment, marking, and certification of Philippine-registered ships
engaged in domestic trade based on International Load Line Convention
1966 and Protocol of 1988, as amended, while MARINA Circular No. 2007-
04 requires all ships under the Philippine flag registry to be admeasured
relative to the standards of the International Tonnage Convention (ITC) of
1969. The MARINA Advisory No. 2012-11, on the other hand, promotes the
safety of ships through the conduct of nationwide audit for the validation
and verification of tonnage measurement of all Philippine-registered
domestic vessels.
Meanwhile, the MARINA regularly audits its regional offices
performing the tonnage measurement of ships to ensure that the
methods, processes, and extent of internal controls are compliance
with the objectives of the MARINA in regulating the Philippine shipping
industry, and as a result, the MARINA is a able to address the discrepancies
found on tonnage measurement.
To date, the MARINA-SRS successfully conducted internal audits on
seven (7) MARINA Regional offices including Regions 1 and 2 in La Union,
Region 4 in Batangas City, Region 5 in Legaspi City, Region 6 in Iloilo
City, Region 7 in Cebu City, Region 8 in Tacloban City, and Region 9 in
Zamboanga City. The sector targets to audit three more regional offices,
including the central office, this year.
In coordination with the International Association of Classification
Societies (IACS), the MARINA-SRS also regularly conducts capacity
building on Tonnage Measurement of Ships (TMS) to further equip
its technical personnel, specifically its naval architects, on its latest
advancements. http://marina.gov.ph/
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