MARINA won't retire aging ships

MANILA, Philippines – Antiquated and decrepit ships would continue to endanger the lives of passengers even as President Arroyo inaugurates her “Strong Republic Nautical Highway.”

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will reportedly issue guidelines to allow 30-year-old ships and older to operate for five more years.

Shipping industry sources told The STAR the MARINA’s action is violative of the Domestic Shipping Act of 2004 that requires the decommissioning of old passenger ships based on safety considerations.

Last Monday, the President started her personal appearances in leading the inauguration of several roll-on roll-off ferry systems in Bohol and other provinces in the Visayas and Mindanao linked through the “Strong Republic Nautical Highway.”

Sources said allowing old ships to continue to operate could endanger passengers and the environment, considering that old ships do not have safety features carried by newer vessels.

Earlier, MARINA Administrator Vicente Suazo Jr. announced that the agency was due to come out with rules and regulations for the mandatory retirement of vessels more than 30 years old as provided under the Domestic Shipping Act of 2004.

MARINA is mandated to draft the regulations implementing the Domestic Shipping Development Act of 2004, especially with regard the retirement of vessels more than 30 years old to ensure safety at sea.

Suazo said MARINA’s thrust is to upgrade the Philippine maritime industry and “revive” the local shipbuilding industry, which had suffered a decline as several shipbuilders had gone down to becoming just ship repair facilities.

With shipping vessels getting their upgrade, ship repair and ship building entities will get more business, he added.

Under the Domestic shipping Act of 2004, the MARINA must prepare and implement a mandatory vessel-retirement program for all un-classed vessels that fail to meet the classification standards of a government-recognized classification society.

“All vessels which have attained the maximum vessel age as stipulated by MARINA’s mandatory vessel-retirement program which do not carry a class certificate issued by a government-recognized classification society shall not be allowed to operate in the domestic trade and shall be automatically de-listed from the Philippine Registry,” read the law.