MARINA assures continued transport of goods as cargo shipping stays operational

MARINA assures continued transport of goods as cargo shipping stays operational
NICOLE-ANNE C. LAGRIMAS, April 10, 2020 https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/nation/733466/marina-assures-contin...

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has assured the public of the continued transportation of goods amid the enhanced community quarantine as hundreds of ships completed normal cargo operations in the past week.

Seventy-six percent or 308 of 403 cargo ships completed normal operations from April 2 to April 8, MARINA said in a weekly report.

This is higher than the 36% of passenger ship operations that were completed under normal conditions during the same period. Sixty-four percent were cancelled, delayed, or uncompleted.

Only 96 fast craft ferries of the 363 passenger vessels that completed their voyages carried passengers; the rest transported cargo.

Taken together, 48% of 1,401 passenger and cargo shipping operations were completed in accordance with their certificate of public convenience; 52% were cancelled, delayed, or uncompleted due to COVID-19 measures, MARINA said.

Most of the 671 normally completed operations were in Central Visayas and Calabarzon. Cancelled operations mostly affected Central and Western Visayas, according to the agency.

In total, 589 operations were cancelled, 86 were delayed, and 55 were not completed in the past week.

"With cargo shipping still operational, transport of goods amid Enhanced Community Quarantine is assured," MARINA said.

On Friday, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said only cargo vessels, fishing boats, tugboats, and government vessels were allowed to sail in Luzon and Visayas.

Passenger vessels and private watercrafts are covered by the no sail policy, PCG said.

President Rodrigo Duterte has extended the Luzon-wide community quarantine to April 30. It was originally set to last until midnight of April 13.—AOL, GMA News