- The Maritime Industry Authority signed a MOA with four classification societies, delegating them to carry out statutory certification and services for domestic shipping companies and their ships
- The four classification societies are American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore SAS, International Register of Shipping, and International Naval Surveys Bureau
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) signed a memorandum of agreement with four classification societies, delegating them to carry out statutory certification and services for domestic shipping companies and their ships.
The four classification societies accredited as recognized organizations (RO) are the American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas Marine & Offshore SAS, International Register of Shipping, and International Naval Surveys Bureau, according to MARINA National Capital Region (NCR) regional director Marc Anthony Pascua in MARINA-NCR Advisory No. 2021-001 dated September 7.
The MOA is pursuant to MARINA Circular (MC) 2018-01, which authorizes ROs that have undergone assessment by MARINA to carry out statutory certification and related services under mandatory International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization instruments, national legislations, rules and regulations, for Philippine shipping companies and their Philippine-registered ships engaged or will engage in international voyages and domestic trade.
MC 2018-01, issued in 2018, requires a MOA between MARINA and the RO for the latter to perform statutory certification and related services on behalf of the Philippine maritime authority.
Flag states, which implement and enforce international regulations on safety, security and environmental protection contained within various IMO instruments, can delegate all or part of their powers to ROs that have the necessary technical skills.
Under MC 2018-01, the Certificate of Accreditation is valid for five years, subject to continued compliance with requirements under the circular. MARINA reserves the right to audit the ROs on grounds of violation of the MOA or as warranted.
In 2019, MARINA also signed a MOA with Panama-based International Register of Shipping under MC 2018-01.
READ: MARINA partners with classification society for ship certification services
Pascua said all existing MOA entered prior to MC 2018-01 of ROs that have pending applications with MARINA will remain effective unless otherwise revoked or a new MOA is signed. – Roumina Pablo
