Strengthening its commitment to make the Philippines an international crew change hub, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through its maritime sector, conducted the first crew change operations outside Metro Manila at Port Capinpin in Orion, Bataan today, 5 September 2020. This, after all operational requirements for the location, such as the establishment of a One-Stop continue reading : DOTr CONDUCTS FIRST CREW CHANGE OPERATIONS AT THE PORT OF CAPINPIN IN BATAAN

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – As part of its efforts to further assist Filipino seafarers who are experiencing difficulties in crew changes and disembarkation and to promote their continued employment, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has issued MARINA Advisory 2020-67, which grants a one (1)-year extension for expiring Seafarer’s Record Books (SRBs) and Seafarers Identification and Record continue reading : GOOD NEWS: MARINA EXTENDS EXPIRING SIRBs, SRBs FOR SEAFARERS ONBOARD, ASHORE TO ONE YEAR

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Maritime Industry Authority, through its Advisory No. 2020-66, has recently issued a one-year extension of the validity of STCW certificates of Filipino seafarers, as part of the Agency’s temporary contingency measure amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. All STCW certificates, which are expiring between 01 September 2020 to 31 December 2020, shall be continue reading : MARINA EXTENDS EXPIRING STCW CERTIFICATES TO ONE YEAR

MANILA, PHILIPPINES– To help ensure that the production and delivery of food remain unhindered amid the ongoing coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic across the country, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has recently directed domestic shipping lines to provide cargo space allocation for agricultural products at least twelve percent (12%) of the ship’s cargo capacity on per continue reading : MARINA DIRECTS ALL DOMESTIC SHIPPING LINES TO PROVIDE CARGO SPACE ALLOCATION, PREFERENTIAL CARGO RATES FOR AGRICULTURAL, FOOD PRODUCTS

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – To promote the competitiveness of Philippine-registered ships by providing flexibility to their operation, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has recently issued a new set of rules on the issuance of Special Permit for the temporary utilization of Philippine-registered domestic ships to operate in international voyages. Only those ships with class certificates, whether continue reading : MARINA ISSUES NEW RULES ON ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL PERMIT FOR TEMPORARY UTILIZATION OF PH-REGISTERED DOMESTIC SHIPS TO OPERATE IN INT’L VOYAGES

The Philippines, through the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), on Thursday committed itself to becoming a major international hub for crew change before the 39th Meeting of the Maritime Transport Working Group of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its Dialogue Partners such as China, Japan, Korea and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This continue reading : PHILIPPINES COMMITS AS MAJOR CREW CHANGE HUB IN ASEAN MARITIME CONFAB; UPDATES EFFORTS ON COVID-19, OTHER INITIATIVES

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Maritime Industry Authority, through its Advisory No. 2020-65, has recently directed all shipping companies, ship owners and operators to implement heightened security measures and extra vigilance to ensure the protection and safety of Philippine registered ships and their crew in the light of the twin bombing incidents that transpired in Jolo, continue reading : MARINA directs heightened safety, security measures for PH-registered ships

MANILA, PHILIPPINES – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) communicated recently to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) the Philippine Guidelines for the establishment of the Philippines Green Lane to facilitate the speedy and safe travels of seafarers, including their safe and swift disembarkation, and crew change during the COVID-19 pandemic, as a response to the international continue reading : MARINA communicates PH guidelines on Green Lane to IMO; ensures speedy, safe travels of seafarers amid COVID-19 pandemic

Facing restrictions imposed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the country’s maritime industry, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), through its Maritime Sector, is now activating crew change hubs to address the global need for fresh crew of ships operated by around 1.5 million seafarers, 378,000 or 25% of which are Filipinos. “This month alone, continue reading : AMID COVID-19 PANDEMIC, DOTr ACTIVATES 3 PORTS AS CREW CHANGE HUBS IN ONE MONTH: SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE STARTS AS HUB TODAY, AUGUST 22