Marina halts operations of 4 local shipping firms

MANILA, Philippines — The Maritime Industry Authority has issued a cease and desist order against four local ship operators due to minor shipping violations.

Among the four Classification Societies were Ocean Register of Shipping (Ocean RSI), Filipino Vessel Classification System Association Inc. (FVCSAI), Shipping Classification Standards of the Philippines Inc. (SCSPI) and the Philippine Classification Register Inc. (PCRI).

“In the interest of safety and general welfare, you are hereby ordered to immediately cease and desist from operation, until further orders from this authority,” Marina said in separate orders to the four concerned companies.

As per the report of the Maritime Safety Service to Marina administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero – a retired AFP chief of staff – the four companies were “not compliant” with Section V of Marina Circular 165 which sets the rules on qualifications of shipping personnel.

The four companies were called to a hearing to explain why no punitive action should be “taken” against them.

The circular underscored the need to keep technically competent professionals such as licensed naval architects, electrical and mechanical engineers, chief engineer and master mariner, among others.

Guerrero replaced former Marina chief Marcial Amaro III who was fired by President Duterte in January for taking excessive trips abroad.

Classification Societies are non-stock, non-profit organizations tasked to perform mandatory and periodical surveys of ships – both passenger and cargo – in order to ascertain their seaworthiness and ensure maritime safety in general.

The order came as the transportation committee of the House of Representatives approved in August a bill that seeks to provide for a “single classification” of all vessels plying inland waters and open seas, amid fears of creating a monopoly in the shipping industry.

The panel approved House Bill 460 of Angkla Rep. Jesulito Manalo who promised and vowed to consult all the stakeholders in the shipping industry and reassured them the measure is not geared towards any monetary consideration, but only for purposes of safety.

“I’m willing to amend provisions of my bill. It’s not money we’re talking about here, because safety is our paramount concern here. You (stakeholders) can make a consortium. Everybody should get together under one global standard,” he told his colleagues in the committee.