Question & AnswerQ&A (MIA FLAG STATE ADMINISTRATION ADVISORY NO. 15, S. 2000)
A High Speed Craft is defined as a craft capable of maximum speed in meters per second (m/s) equal to or exceeding 0.1667 times the cube root of the displacement corresponding to the design waterline in cubic meters (V).
Compliance with structural standards of a classification society recognized by the Administration may be accepted as satisfactory proof of the structural adequacy of a craft.
For High Speed Crafts with tonnage over 100 up to 250, the Deck Department requires 1 Master, 1 Chief Mate, 1 Deck Officer, 1 3rd Mate, and 1 Deck Rating.
The Engine Department requires 1 Chief Engineer Officer with a 4th Marine Engineer license/qualification for unmanned machinery space with power below 1400 kW.
For manned machinery space with power between 2800 and 4200 kW, the Engine Department requires 1 Chief Engineer Officer with a 2nd Marine Engineer license and 1 2nd Engineer Officer with a 3rd Marine Engineer license.
The required license for the Master in the Deck Department for crafts over 250 up to 500 tons is Master Mariner.
The operation and enforcement of High Speed Crafts are governed by the provisions under the Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations, 1997, specifically Regulation XVII/2 and XVII/3, and Memorandum Circular No. 148.
Machinery power ranges over 4200 kW up to 8200 kW require a Chief Engineer Officer with a Chief Marine Engineer qualification for unmanned machinery space.
A classification society recognized by the Administration provides the structural standards which, when complied with, are accepted as satisfactory proof of the structural adequacy of the High Speed Craft.