Domestic vessels plying Philippine waters increased 8.6% to 22,034 ships as of June 2015 from 20,280 vessels in the same period last year, data from the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) showed.
Of the total, 10,694 ships formed part of the merchant fleet while 11,340 were fishing boats. As of June 2015, total gross register tonnage (GRT) reached 2.784 million, 1.6% up from the 2.741 million GRT registered year-on-year.
Of the total merchant fleet as of June, 6,555 were accounted for by passenger vessels, 3,051 by cargo vessels, 249 tankers, 566 tugs, 28 dredgers, 33 yachts, 16 special purpose ships, 78 miscellaneous ships, and 118 that do not fall under any of the previous categories.
Faster processing
Last year, MARINA institutionalized its special processing window/express lane (SPWEL) to speed up the release of permits for vessel imports and encourage investments in the local shipping industry. SPWEL aimed to cut processing time for permits to import ships and operate them in the Philippines from 52 working days previously to just nine working days, saving operators P30 million in additional costs and lost opportunities per vessel.
Moreover, MARINA last year implemented a mobile system for the registration, licensing, documentation, and franchising of motor bancas and fishing boats below 35 GRTs.
Meanwhile, a total of 123 overseas-based vessels with a total of 2.923 million GRTs were registered under the Philippine flag as of June 2015. Of the total, 26 were general cargo carriers, 70 bulk carriers, 13 tankers, one roll-on/roll-off, eight livestock carriers, one dry cargo ship, two container carriers, and two multipurpose dry cargo vessels.
The latest figure is 6% higher than the 116 Philippines-registered vessels as of December 2014.
As of June this year, MARINA, under its Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 186, accredited five new domestic maritime enterprises engaged in bunkering, ship management, and ship agency. Five other firms have already renewed their accreditation.
Under MC 03-2006, or the revised guidelines on the accreditation of domestic shipping enterprises or entities, MARINA approved or renewed the accreditation of 30 enterprises.
As part of its 2013-2016 plans and programs for the domestic shipping sector, MARINA aims to have a modern and regionally competitive fleet that maintains higher safety standards. It also seeks to develop the Philippine registry into an attractive, quality, and strong sovereign flag of choice of ship owners. – Roumina Pablo
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