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The Philippines had 31,814 domestic vessels registered with the Maritime Industry Authority in 2021, up by 6.1% from the 29,974 domestic ships in 2020
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MARINA recorded 97 Philippine-registered ships operating overseas in 2021, fewer than the 100 in 2020
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There were 114 licensed shipbuilding and ship repair companies in 2021, one company less than the 2020 figure
The Philippine domestic vessel fleet grew 6.1% to 31,814 in 2021 from the previous year’s 29,974, according to Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) data.
The bulk of the entire fleet comprised fishing vessels numbering 13,770, followed by 12,495 passenger ships and 3,623 cargo ships. The rest were 682 tugs and dredgers, 242 tankers, 25 special-purpose ships, and 977 miscellaneous ships (vessels not under the previous categories), based on MARINA’s latest statistical report covering the years 2017-2021.
The average gross revenue tonnage (GRT) in 2021 was 106.90, greater than the 103.90 GRT average in 2020.
MARINA recorded 4,828 maritime companies engaged in the domestic trade accredited under Memorandum Circular No. 2006-03 as of December 2021. Of the total, 3,071 were new accreditations, 1,698 were renewals, 41 were reissuances, and 18 were extensions of accreditation.
MC 2006-03 provides the revised guidelines on the accreditation of domestic shipping enterprises or entities.
The maritime agency also accredited 203 companies under MC 186/DS-2020-02 as of December 2021. Of the total, 111 were new and 92 were renewal of accreditation.
MC DS-2020-02 repeals MC 186 and provides MARINA’s revised rules on accreditation of maritime enterprises. This covers maritime enterprise, which include ship management; ship agency; multimodal transport operation and any other similar enterprise whose activities consist of representing within the Philippines, as an agent, the business interests of one or more shipping lines or shipping companies.
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MC DS-2020-02 includes in its coverage ship husbanding; ship chandling; manning; companies engaged in importation and trading of accessory boats, recreational craft, and marine spare parts; and other similar enterprises.
MARINA issued 721 Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) or franchises in 2021, more than the 533 CPCs it issued in 2020. It renewed 160 CPCs in 2021, amended 234 CPCs, had 50 exemptions from CPC issuance, approved 138 petition for sale and transfer, and issued 1,005 extensions of special permits.
In 2021, the agency approved for importation 476 vessels, an 84% increase from the 258 vessels in 2020. The total cost of the 476 vessels was US$1.84 billion, up from the $68.65 million in 2020 for the 258 vessels.
MARINA issues the authority to acquire vessels through importation by virtue of MC No. 104, which implements the present policy of the government to liberalize vessel acquisition. Vessels of any type, which are not wooden-hulled (except for locally built boats) are allowed for acquisition under MC 104.
Another policy, MC 2017-04, provides the guidelines on the importation of passenger ships intended for domestic shipping.
MARINA approved only three boats for chartering in 2021, the same number as in 2020. It included one passenger ship, one cargo vessel, and one other type of vessel.
The agency issued 4,207 Certificates of Ownership (CO) in 2021, up from 2,626 in 2020, and 4,382 Certificates of Philippine Registry (CPR), from 3,259 in 2020. Of the total COs in 2021, 1,420 were newly issued while 2,787 were reissuances. For CPRs, 1,522 were new while 2,860 were reissuances.
All ships of domestic ownership plying the Philippine waters, regardless of size and utilization, must be properly registered and issued a CPR and CO.
MARINA, meanwhile, deleted 229 ships from the Philippine registry in 2021, more than the 132 deleted in 2020.
For 2021, MARINA investigated 214 accidents, 133% more than the 92 accidents investigated in 2020. These accidents included grounding, loss of control, hull failure, listing/capsizing, collision, fire/explosion, and damage to ship or equipment.
For the overseas shipping sector, MARINA recorded 97 Philippine-registered ships operating oversees in 2021, fewer than the 100 in 2020. Of the 2021 total, 94 were bareboat charters while only three were owned. The majority were bulk carriers, followed by general cargo ships and tankers.
MARINA accredited 48 maritime enterprises under MC 181 in 2021, compared with the 50 accredited in 2020. Still, the total paid-up capital of the 48 companies in 2021 was P1.536 billion from P1.414 billion in 2020.
MC 181 (lists the qualifications for accrediting shipping companies that plan to acquire ships to be registered under the Philippine flag or to operate Philippine-registered ships for international voyages.
MARINA also accredited 495 maritime enterprises operating for Philippine-registered ships in international trade under MC 186/DS-2020-02 in 2021. They were fewer than the 503 accredited in 2020.
In 2021, the agency issued/reissued 29 special permits to temporarily change vessel utilization from domestic to overseas trade. The number was lower than the 31 issues/reissued in 2020.
On shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR), MARINA recorded 114 licensed SBSR companies in 2021, compared with the 115 licensed in 2020. – Roumina Pablo
