As part of their cooperation, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Navy (PN) conducted a two-day joint orientation on shipyard policies on a virtual and face-to-face arrangement on 11 and 12 November 2021.

On the first day of the orientation, MARINA personnel presented, via videoconferencing, the MARINA’s rules and regulations on the registration and licensing of shipbuilders as well as boatbuilders; ship safety policies; and marine environment policies and standards.

“We are pleased that we are now taking further steps for the materialization of our goals and objectives under the partnership between the MARINA and the Philippine Navy,” Engr. Ramon C. Hernandez, Director of the MARINA’s Shipyards Regulation Service and Maritime Safety Service said in his welcome remarks.

“This is certainly a very promising partnership. For the MARINA, we are absolutely thrilled and eager to broaden our technical knowledge and capability—from only merchant vessels to naval vessels—of course with the kind assistance and cooperation of the Philippine Navy,” Engr. Hernandez added.

Meanwhile, the PN gave MARINA personnel a tour of its shipyard facility at the Sangley Point Naval Base in Cavite City, Cavite on the second day of the orientation. PN officers graciously accommodated the MARINA and introduced its visiting personnel to the various facilities of its yard such as the machine shop, steel shop, and the floating dock. MARINA personnel were also welcomed aboard BRP Artemio Ricarte PS37, dubbed the “Ang Barkong Magaling,” to give them a detailed view of the technical features and particulars of naval vessels.

In a pre-recorded video message, MARINA Administrator Vice Admiral Robert A Empedrad AFP (Ret) recounted his meaningful years of service as a retired naval officer and a former flag officer-in-command of the PN, “For 37 years, I served the Filipino people—our maritime nation—as a Navy officer. There are lots of dreams that we envision in our Navy, and one of which is to strengthen the capability of our naval shipyard to be able to build brand new war ships for the Philippine Navy. That has not come to reality until today.”

Administrator Empedrad also shared that he saw “the enormous opportunity that the PN can take advantage of” when he assumed post as MARINA administrator, citing the skill and expertise of the naval architects and engineers of the MARINA. In addition, Administrator Empedrad also conveyed his optimism that the PN would be able to build its own “modern ships” as a result of the MARINA-PN partnership.

PN Flag Officer-in-Command Vice Admiral Adeluis S Bordado also delivered a pre-recorded video message to MARINA and PN during the orientation.

Emphasizing the importance of this cooperation in securing the Philippine maritime territory, Vice Admiral Bordado stated, “This two-day activity aims to optimize our agreement last May, but it is also symbolic of our intention to maximize our partnership in a bid to better execute our national security and defense strategies and our mandate.”

The orientation is part of the MARINA-PN memorandum of agreement signed on 18 May 2021. This partnership aims to equip the technical personnel of the MARINA and PN with the necessary knowledge and proficiencies for the design, construction, and inspection and survey of naval ships and floating assets.