MARINA begins orientation on blockchain-enabled e-processing

MARINA begins orientation on blockchain-enabled e-processing
February 29, 2024 https://www.portcalls.com/marina-begins-orientation-on-blockchain-enable...

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has started orienting industry stakeholders on its blockchain-enabled system for electronically processing applications.

MARINA on February 26 initiated the Blockchain-Enabled Automated Certification System (BEST) orientation series, with 350 in attendance, the agency said in a statement.

Targeted for implementation by July 2024, MARINA BEST aims to enhance the agency’s online services, paving the way for contactless transactions from application to release of certificates, licenses, letter approvals, and documents. The project uses blockchain technology to keep data secured from unauthorized changes.

It is meant to provide an efficient unified information system to improve internal productivity and secure data access.

With MARINA BEST, all applications with MARINA will be online and real-time, both through a web portal or mobile, and will make use of electronic certificates, licenses, and documents. It will also allow online payment and can provide updates and tracking of applications. It can also automatically notify users of the expiration of certificates, permits, and licenses.

MARINA BEST will cover all of the maritime agency’s processes, as well as shipyard operators, seafarers, ship owners/operators, license manning agencies, payment gateways, MARINA employees, Department of Health-accredited clinics, assessment centers, maritime training institutions, maritime higher education institutions, and other concerned government agencies. All MARINA clients will be required to use the system.

The joint venture of Microbase, Inc. and Ideyateach, Inc. is the system provider for MARINA BEST.

MARINA is also working on two other digitalization projects. The Maritime Transportation Information System (MARIS) is a project that aims to address the lack of data-oriented framework to understand and forecast maritime traffic in the Philippines. Currently, there is no existing system in any regulatory government agency that analyzes the needed number of routes and their respective capacities throughout the country.

The Maritime Energy Demand Information and Analysis Software, meanwhile, is a system that will collect environmental parameters and quickly estimate the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the operating fleet based on transportation activity.