“It is my sincere hope that this joint endeavor will stand as one of a long and continuing list of meaningful collaborations between the MARINA and IRS. As our goal, that is to achieving harmonized global implementation of requirements established by international maritime instruments to ensure the safety of life at sea and protection of the marine environment,” VADM Vingson said.

VADM Vingson and Captain Everton Morris, Director of Certification, signed the MOA on behalf of the MARINA and IRS, respectively. The signing was witnessed by Ms. Nannette Z. Villamor Dinopol, MARINA Deputy Administrator for Operations, and Ms. Catalina V. Thomas, IRS Operations Manager.

The MOA, as presented by the Director of the MARINA-Overseas Shipping Service (MARINA-OSS), Atty. Jean Ver P. Pia, consists of two (2) parts. The first part provides the main agreement which includes the application, purpose, general conditions, execution of functions, legal basis, interpretation, equivalents and exemptions, reporting to the flag state, development of rules and regulations, information and liaison, supervision/audit/oversight function and other conditions.

The second part contains the three (3) Annexes, which provide the list of applicable instruments, Degree of Authorization for a particular applicable document, and requirement of reporting to the MARINA.

Per MARINA Circular 2018-01, Recognized Organizations assessed by the Administration are authorized to carry out statutory certification and services under mandatory International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO) instruments, national legislations, rules and regulations, to Philippine shipping companies and their Philippine-registered ships engaged or shall engage in international voyages and domestic trade.