Philippines gears up for IMO audit of maritime rule

PHL gears up for IMO audit of maritime rule
Samuel P. Medenilla -July 5, 2019 https://businessmirror.com.ph/2019/07/05/phl-gears-up-for-imo-audit-of-m...

Filipino seafarers of CF Sharp (cfsharpcrew.com/filipino-seafarers-are-world-class/)
The government said it has started preparing for a comprehensive audit of the country’s Philippine maritime regulations which will be conducted by the International Maritime Organization in 2021.

President Duterte issued on Tuesday Executive Order (EO) 84 which mandated the creation of the Inter-Agency Council on the International Maritime Organization Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS).

The council will be responsible for ensuring that the Philippines will be ready for the IMSAS.

It will “plan, manage, direct, coordinate, and monitor the corresponding efforts of relevant national government agencies and instrumentalities” so the country will be able to comply with its obligations and commitments to the IMO.

EO 84 designated the secretary of Department of Transportation (DOTr) as chairman of the council and the Maritime Industry Authority chief as its vice chairman

The members of the council are representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and Cebu Port Authority (CPA).

It will be assisted by a Technical Working Group (TWG) comprised by representatives from DFA; PCG; PPA; CPA; Commission on Higher Education (CHED); National Mapping and Resource Information Authority; Environment Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources; Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources of the Department of Agriculture; Office of Transportation Security of the DOTr, and the Philippine National Police Maritime Group.

The TWG will aid the council by submitting the implementation of IMO instrumentalities, and a monitoring mechanism to assess this.

“The Overseas Shipping Service of the Marina shall serve as the Secretariat of the Council,” EO 84 read. The funding for the operation of the Council and TWG will be determined by the Department of Budget and Management.

The Philippines is scheduled to undergo the IMSAS in 2021 and every seven years thereafter.

The IMSAS will cover the regulations in the following areas: safety of life at sea; prevention of pollution from ships; standards, training certification and watch keeping for seafarers; load lines; tonnage measurement of ships; regulations for preventing collisions at sea.