IMO, World Bank hold study on domestic ferry safety

IMO, World Bank hold study on domestic ferry safety
Genivi Verdejo December 8, 2021 https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/12/08/business/maritime/imo-world-bank-...

The Philippines was selected as a beneficiary of the nationwide study on domestic passenger ship safety and energy efficiency, which was started recently by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), World Bank Group (WBG), and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Engr. Ramon C. Hernandez, director of the Shipyards Regulation Service (SRS) of Marina said, "With the maritime transport landscape continuously evolving, the implementation of the study on the safety and energy efficiency of domestic passenger ships in the Philippines is timely and relevant".

The study targets all the components of the safety system and the whole feasible spectrum of risk control options with energy efficiency aspect to identify the most practical and cost-effective options to reduce the carbon footprint of the domestic shipping sector.

The study, which is funded by the IMO and the WBG, is implemented by Marina, an agency committed to reducing maritime casualties. Marina joined the global efforts to mitigate climate change effects.

"The Philippines, with Marina's lead, aims to strengthen its efforts to enhance ferry safety in the Philippines while treating safety of life at sea and environmental considerations with utmost priority," he said. Engr. Nannette V. Dinopol, Marina deputy administrator for operations said, "We will instill and sustain a culture of safety in the Philippine domestic shipping sector, to ensure that maritime casualty in the Philippines in the coming years is significantly reduced."

Marina will prioritize the protection of the marine environment in domestic shipping activities, as the Philippines is an "environmentally aware nation." Marina has issued policies intended to address the environmental harm caused by the shipping industry. Memorandum Circular No. SR-2020-06 mandates Philippine-registered ships plying domestic routes to comply with the Global sulfur cap, or the 'IMO 2020.' This regulation requires ships to use fuels with only 0.5% m/m sulfur content.

The IMO, WBG through the International Finance Corp. (IFC), World Maritime University (WMU), and University of Strathclyde (UOS) have supported the implementation of the project. Xiaojie Zhang, director of the technical cooperation division of the IMO said, "there has been a noticeable decline in the number of accidents involving domestic ferries and the next step is to undertake the formal safety assessment (FSA), which is part of this study. Benedict L. J. Eijbergen, practice manager for transport at WBG said ferry safety has impacts on the tourism sector, which employs millions of Filipinos.
close
volume_off

He said mishaps often prompted other countries to release travel advisories warning their citizens visiting the Philippines against taking interisland ferries. Bekir Sitki Ustaoglu, head of the Asia and Pacific section of the TCD at IMO, and Jean-Marc Christian Arbogast, country manager of the IFC for the Philippines both emphasized the need of the Philippines for timely and continuous interventions in vessel safety.

Marina's implementing partners are the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA). It is guided by the project's international consultants from the WMU in Sweden and the UOS in Scotland and national consultants, Diana Factuar and Engr. Jerome Manuel.