The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) stands by its policy on the phase out of wooden hulled ships, as it believes that it has provided operators ample time to modernize their ships.
Admitting that the expiration of the certificates of public convenience (CPCs) of wooden hulled ships has caused a “temporary influx of passengers” in the Guimaras-Iloilo route, Marina said it will implement the said policy due to safety concerns.
Marina, in 2016, issued Memorandum Circular 2016-02, which provides for the phase out of wooden hulled vessels.
“The issuance of the aforementioned Marina Circular is imbued with public interest particularly in the promotion of maritime safety in domestic waters. Since the issuance of this policy in 2016, wooden hulled ship operators have been given ample time to modernize their ships to plastic reinforced or fiber reinforced plastic boats,” Marina said.
The full implementation of the policy has been extended several times to provide wooden hulled ship owners time to acquire new ships, or modernize their existing fleet altogether.
“At the policy level, the transitory period for the grant of CPC to wooden-hulled boats has been extended several times already, and this practice should be put an end. A CPC for wooden-hulled ships is valid for five years, without extension,” Marina said.
For now, Marina is “closely monitoring” the situation in Guimaras and has relaxed the schedule of trips of boats operating in Buenavista, Guimaras to Iloilo route.
“Marina assures the public that it has taken necessary steps to ensure that passengers traveling this route have reached their port of destination through the provision of available plastic reinforced or fiber reinforced plastic boats and Roro ships,” Marina said.
Marina noted that it may provide wooden hulled ship owners incentives to be able to meet the requirements under the 2016 memo.
“The Marina, in collaboration with industry stakeholders, will pursue incentive schemes for domestic ship owners so that they would be able to acquire modern ships to replace wooden-hulled boats,” Marina said.