Marina orders compulsory insurance for sea passengers

Marina orders compulsory insurance for sea passengers
Genivi Factao May 27, 2020 https://www.manilatimes.net/2020/05/27/business/maritime-business/marina...

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has advised all domestic shipping companies to enforce the compulsory insurance coverage for passengers onboard ships operating in areas under the general community quarantine (GCQ).
Marina Administrator Robert Empedrad said Marina has issued additional guidelines on the compulsory insurance coverage for passengers in areas where passenger ships would be allowed to operate.

Under the Marina Advisory 2020-34, all domestic shipping companies and ship owners who were granted a certificate of public convenience, provisional authority or special permit with valid passenger insurance would be allowed to resume passenger ship operations in areas under GCQ.

Ship owners and operators were advised to follow the guidelines provided in Marina Advisory 2020-29 that encourages limiting passengers to 50 percent of the ship’s onboard capacity.
“Strict social distancing measures should also be observed among crew and passengers at all times during the voyage,” it said.

Since only half of the ship’s onboard capacity would be allowed, ship owners and operators may now reduce the coverage of their insurance policy to 50 percent of the ship’s authorized passenger capacity as per its passenger ship safety certificate. The proof of insurance coverage should be immediately submitted upon issuance thereof.
The Marina advisory said domestic ship operators were still required to meet their financial responsibility to all its passengers for any maritime-related accidents or incidents that may occur during the voyage.

The advisory was issued in pursuant to Republic Act 11469 known as the “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” and Proclamation 922 declaring a state of public health emergency throughout the country, due to coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.