Marina denies making seafarers 'milking cows'

Marina denies making seafarers 'milking cows'
September 28, 2022 https://www.manilatimes.net/2022/09/28/business/maritime/marina-denies-m...

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) denied allegations it had imposed excessive fines and thus making seafarers "milking cows."

The accusation stemmed from an alleged Marina memorandum circular (MC) that the fines for seafarers who were found to have submitted false testimonies and fake documents in an attempt to secure certificates will be increased to P50,000 up to P1 million.

Marina immediately issued a statement in a bid to correct the allegations.

In a statement posted on Facebook, it said that the memorandum circular referred to in the report is the series of circulars issued in 2021 that revised the minimum mandatory requirements on the certification of able seafarers deck and engine which contains among others, provisions defining certain acts or omissions and prescribing their corresponding administrative fines and penalties.

"It must be emphasized, however, that the penalty provisions of the aforementioned Marina Memorandum Circular were merely aligned and adopted from existing Marina Circulars relating to the issuance of Certificates of Competency (COCs) and Certificates of Proficiency (COPs)," the statement said.

It is basically the same as the penalty provisions imposed on officers who would be found committing the same offense as shown in Marina Circular Nos. 2021-03, 2021-04, 2021-05, 2021-06, copies of which can be accessed through the link: https://stcw.marina.gov.ph/policies/approved-circulars/.

"It must also be pointed out that the penalty provisions apply not only to seafarers but also to liaison officers, manning agencies/shipping companies, maritime training institutions, and assessment centers who have engaged in any act/s of misrepresentation for the purpose of securing Certificates of Proficiency such as giving of false testimonies or falsified documents, or use, submission or presentation of falsified, fraudulent or tampered documents."

The objective of imposing stiffer penalties is to stop the proliferation of COCs and COPs based on bogus supporting documents.

"The imposition of stiffer fines is necessary to deter persons and entities covered by the Circular from committing offenses that would undermine the integrity of certificates issued by the Philippine government and to avoid seafarers from being subjected to detention during port state inspections. Also, these fines are remitted to the country's treasury and not to Marina," the agency said.

It pointed out that the series of MCs imposing stiffer fines were "approved by Marina Board in 2021, and not by the new Marina Administrator."

The statement questioned the timing of raising the issue now under the new administrator. Furthermore, included in the Marina Board in 2021 was then administrator Vice Admiral Robert Empedrad, who got rid of some of the expensive training courses for seafarers.

It was also the same Marina Board that waived the fees for a first-time applicant of the Seafarer Record Book (SRB) or seaman's book and slashed by 50 percent the fees for the renewal of expired or lost SRB.

The fees for SRB being waived range from P1,000 to P1,800.