Question & AnswerQ&A (PCG MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 1-94)
The authority comes from Section 3(d) of Republic Act 5173 and the Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations (PMMRR).
To prescribe guidelines and procedures for the processing and approval of Ship'as Plans, Admeasurements/Readmeasurements, Stability, Loadline, and Passenger Accommodation Plans of Philippine registered vessels pursuant to applicable PMMRR provisions.
It applies to the processing, review, and approval of Ship'as Plans, Admeasurements/Readmeasurements, Inclining Experiments and Certificates of Stability, Loadlines, and Passenger Accommodation Plans of Philippine registered vessels.
The Commander, Maritime Safety Office (CMSO) or the Commander, Coast Guard District/Station (CCGD/CCGS), on behalf of the Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard (CPCG), approve the documents as provided.
Ship'as Plans in triplicate, signed and sealed by a registered Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, including Electrical Plans by a Licensed Professional Electrical Engineer, must be submitted to CMSO via the CCGS and CCGD with jurisdiction over the construction or homeport.
If disapproved, all three copies shall be returned to the shipowner without retention by any office.
They can approve plans for vessels with an estimated gross tonnage not exceeding 15 gross tons, with estimated gross tonnage determined by the Rake-Rake or Coefficient Method.
Shipowners or builders must apply to the CCGD/CCGS with jurisdiction, or directly to CMSO for admeasurement/readmeasurement. The NAED performs the admeasurement, and the International Tonnage Certificate is issued for vessels engaging in international trade under the 1969 Convention.
Qualified persons authorized by law conduct the experiments under supervision of a licensed Naval Architect and Marine Engineer at the MSO or CGD; vessels 65 feet and below may be supervised by a qualified Maritime Safety Engineer.
Plans must be in triplicate, signed and sealed by a registered Naval Architect and Marine Engineer, submitted to CMSO via the CCGD/CCGS jurisdiction, and inspections during construction must verify conformity with the approved plans.
The CCGD is responsible for enforcement of loadline regulations and retains copies of Loadline Certificates; they also approve position and manner of marking and receive certificate files post-issuance.
The Loadline Certificate is not valid or effective unless it is endorsed annually following a loadline survey.
There are detailed plans required for each category from below 15 GT to above 100 GT, ranging from general arrangements, construction plans, hydrostatic curves, to electrical and stability calculations depending on the size.
It takes effect one month after its publication in a newspaper of general circulation or fifteen days after submission to the University of the Philippines Law Center.
It rescinds Memorandum Circular No. 04-79 dated 10 August 1979 and all related conflicting publications.