MARINA seeks extended engagement with French maritime expert

MARINA seeks extended engagement with French maritime expert
January 25, 2024 https://www.portcalls.com/marina-seeks-extended-engagement-with-french-m...

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has requested the French Embassy in the Philippines to extend the deployment of a French maritime expert Emeric Faure.

Faure has been instrumental in providing technical assistance to MARINA on various projects, including enhancing safety standards for roll-on/roll-off passengers (ROPAX) vessels.

The appeal for an extension was presented during a meeting between French Ambassador Marie Fontanel and MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan on January 23, MARINA said in a statement.

In November 2022, MARINA and the French Embassy entered into a memorandum of agreement focused on bolstering maritime safety and security in the Philippines, specifically within the shipbuilding and ship repair industry.

The MOA outlined France’s commitment to deploying a skilled maritime expert to provide technical support, training, and consultancy services to MARINA.

The efforts of French expert Faure have contributed to the concentrated campaign aimed at enhancing the safety levels of ROPAX fleets.

MARINA is preparing a draft MOA for the extension of Faure’s engagement, for further review and discussion with the French Ambassador and officials.

In the same meeting, MARINA and Fontanel addressed the significance of legislative advancements for the Philippine shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship registry.

Bills aligned with MARINA’s legislative agenda, such as House Bill (HB) No. 4336 and Senate Bill (SB) Nos. 902 and 1564, aiming to establish a ship registry system, and HB 4335 and HB 8374 proposing the Shipbuilding Development Act, are pending at the committee level in Congress.

Additionally, discussions touched on the potential peer review by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development of the Philippine shipbuilding and ship repair sector.

Plans for the celebration of the second Philippine-French Maritime Technical Cooperation Day in June 2024 were likewise explored.

During the meeting, MARINA highlighted the benefits of its digitalization project—a key priority for Malaluan. This initiative aims to streamline the processing of frontline services, emphasizing that digitalization will play a crucial role in enforcing safety regulations and enhancing maritime safety in the Philippines.