Marina, SBMA tie up on boat registration

Marina, SBMA tie up on boat registration
Genivi Verdejo March 23, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/03/23/business/maritime/marina-sbma-tie...

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) have agreed to collaborate in ship registries for recreational boats and other maritime-related programs.

Marina Administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad AFP (Ret) said Marina will collaborate with SBMA and deepen their partnership as Marina beefed up the efforts to register the recreational boats.

Empedrad explained the importance of expanding the Philippine Ship Registry, the employment generation in shipyards and the benefits of establishing a Marina extension office in Subic.

Marina conducted the Philippine maritime industry strategic overview forum, stakeholders' orientation, and mobile registration on March 16 to 18, 2022 at Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center to provide awareness on the 10-Year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) and information on Marina's policies. Marina is exploring some areas of collaboration with SBMA, particularly in the ship registry for recreational boats.

"We would like to share the vision of developing the Philippine maritime industry with SBMA, the local government of Olongapo, maritime academe and private stakeholders, as we believe that the united efforts would contribute to the realization of plans under the 10-year MIDP," Empedrad said.

"SBMA allowed Marina to have an extension office in Subic so we can serve better and faster. Marina will bring its services closer to the people, most especially to the Filipino seafarers. This is one of the initiatives, which will be followed by discussions of making SBMA a transshipment hub," Empedrad said, adding that a huge portion of seafarers and maritime stakeholders in the area will benefit from the extension office.

Ronnie Yambao, senior deputy administrator for operations at SMBA, said the collaboration with Marina will enable them to strengthen the capabilities of both agencies, mutually benefiting each other not only in the registration of boats but also in shipyards, safety and improvement, and other maritime-related initiatives.

Marina held the ceremonial issuance of the first Recreational Boat Certificate (RBC) in Subic, which was issued by Empedrad, Yambao and Marina Regional Office (MRO)-NCR Director Engr. Marc Anthony Pascua to Apa Ongpin.

Marina service unit directors discussed several relevant topics relating to the Philippine maritime industry. Planning and Policy Service Director Luisito de los Santos presented the MIDP; Overseas Shipping Service OIC-Director Precila Jara discussed the Philippine Ship Registry and Overseas Shipping; Shipyards Regulation Service Director Engr. Ramon Hernandez tackled the Shipyard and Ship Repair; Maritime Safety Service Director Jeffrey Bangsa cited the maritime safety functions; and Domestic Shipping Service-Ship Registration and Documentation Division chief Geraldina Evangelista explained the domestic shipping functions.

Other topics that were discussed were the Marina Memorandum Circular DS-2019-01 on the Rules and Registration, Licensing and Operation of Recreational Boats and the Seafarers' Documentation, Licensing and Certification.