MANILA – As the Agency continues to throttle towards digitalization, this time for the shipping industry, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will be launching on the first semester next year the Maritime Transportation Information System (MARIS), by commencing its orientation and users training across the Philippines.

MARINA Deputy Administrator for Planning, Sonia B. Malaluan has announced that the MARIS will be launched together with two other systems, the MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Automated Certification System (BEST), and the Maritime Energy Demand Information and Analysis Software (MEDIANS).

The system will also enable shipping companies to access and input into a database the operational data such as passengers and cargoes carried on all voyages. Data could be collated and summarized to serve as the report of shipping operations of all ships with franchise or authority to operate.

Funded by the Department of Science and Technology – Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD), and in collaboration with the University of the Philippines, MARINA aimed to develop and design a modular software and other related tools for an effective operational reporting and route capacity measurement system, as part of the modernization plan of MARINA for the Philippine maritime industry.

MARIS focuses on rationalizing vessel routes, optimizing transport systems based on historical demand to minimize investment risks and enhance efficiency. NAVIS, the project software, currently in its second development phase, includes a database feature for compiling and storing routes, ships, trips, and ports data. Upcoming features include a new route component addressing unserved routes using mode shift analysis, and a network-wide feature employing a hub-and-spoke approach to assess vessel supply adequacy.