MARINA e-processing of applications on track in July

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MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan during the agency's user training on the MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Automated Certification System (MARINA BEST) in Legazpi City, Albay on March 19. Photo from MARINA.
  • The Maritime Industry Authority is on track to implement by July 2024 its blockchain-enabled system to electronically process applications
  • MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan said stakeholders’ orientation and users’ training will be completed in May
  • The hardware to be used are also being delivered in time for the roll out

The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is on track to implement by July 2024 its blockchain-enabled system for electronically processing applications, according to administrator Sonia Malaluan.

“We are on track. So we will complete our stakeholders’ orientation and users’ training by end of May so we can implement our MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Certification System or BEST by July 2024,” Malaluan said in a recent media briefing.

The hardware to be used for implementation is also being delivered in time for the roll out, Malaluan added.

MARINA on February 26 started its orientation series for the new system. To date, stakeholders’ orientation and users’ training have been completed in the National Capital Region and regional offices 1, 2, 4, and 5.

MARINA BEST aims to enhance the agency’s online services, paving the way for contactless transactions from application to release of certificates, licenses, letter approvals, and documents. The project uses blockchain technology to keep data secured from unauthorized changes.

It is meant to provide an efficient unified information system to improve internal productivity and secure data access.

With MARINA BEST, all applications with MARINA will be online and real-time, both through a web portal or mobile, and will make use of electronic certificates, licenses, and documents. It will also allow online payment and can provide updates and tracking of applications. It can also automatically notify users of the expiration of certificates, permits, and licenses.

MARINA BEST will cover all of the maritime agency’s processes, as well as shipyard operators, seafarers, ship owners/operators, license manning agencies, payment gateways, MARINA employees, Department of Health-accredited clinics, assessment centers, maritime training institutions, maritime higher education institutions, and other concerned government agencies. All MARINA clients will be required to use the system.

The joint venture of Microbase, Inc. and Ideyateach, Inc. is the system provider for MARINA BEST.

MARINA is also working on two other digitalization projects. The Maritime Transportation Information System (MARIS) is a project that aims to address the lack of data-oriented framework to understand and forecast maritime traffic in the Philippines.

READ: MARINA introduces 3 digital projects

Currently, there is no existing system in any regulatory government agency that analyzes the needed number of routes and their respective capacities throughout the country.

The Maritime Energy Demand Information and Analysis Software, meanwhile, is a system that collects environmental parameters and quickly estimates the energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of the operating fleet based on transportation activity.  – Roumina Pablo