QuestionsQuestions (MARINA CIRCULAR NO. 2006-001)
To ensure that life-saving, fire-fighting, communications, and navigation appliances/equipment used onboard Philippine-registered domestic ships meet standards/specifications by accrediting their manufacturers, suppliers, and servicing entities, thereby promoting safety of life at sea and protecting the marine environment.
All Philippine companies/entities engaged in manufacturing, supplying, and/or servicing life-saving and other safety-related appliances/equipment (and related supplies/materials) used on-board Philippine-registered domestic ships, as well as ship owners/operators/charterers using the required appliances/equipment on their ships.
Only those accredited by MARINA are authorized to engage in and transact business as manufacturers, suppliers, and/or servicing entities of these safety-related appliances/equipment for Philippine-registered domestic ships.
Products must have type-approval by a recognized classification society (or equivalent/competent bodies recognized by MARINA). Approval may include design approval for each appliance/equipment to be manufactured, prototype production, and testing (in the presence of an authorized surveyor), following ISO or universally accepted procedures or LSA Code recommendations.
The product itself must bear a mark of the approval and other required details such as the standard/quality type and, if applicable, the expiry date.
They must offer in the market only those manufactured with type approval by class societies (or equivalents), with documented/certified proof. They must first secure clearance from MARINA before offering imported items after verification and testing when warranted.
Servicing entities must adhere to class-approved procedures or an ISO-compliant system (or equivalent), supported by duly trained and competent service technicians/engineers, required resources/equipment, and authorization from the original manufacturers for the appliances/equipment.
They must ensure that life-saving and other safety-related appliances/equipment to be used onboard are manufactured, supplied, and serviced by MARINA-accredited companies/entities.
Yes. MARINA may conduct spot inspections/audits of facilities and operations of accredited entities and conduct random testing of manufactured products.
A letter application requesting verification/inspection; SEC registration and Articles of Incorporation/BOI accreditation/BDT-DTI registration and Mayor’s permit; list of officers/key personnel with biodata/credentials; list of facilities/equipment; ISO certification or proof of application for certification (for initial manufacturer applicants); for suppliers, list of appliances/equipment with corresponding type-approval documentation and proof of sole distributorship for imported items when applicable; for servicing entities, list of appliances/equipment to be serviced with manufacturer authorizations, copies of servicing procedures/systems with class approval or ISO certification, and list of trained/credentialed service technicians/engineers; and other requirements MARINA may later deem necessary.
A report on appliances/equipment manufactured, serviced, and/or sold must be submitted to MARINA as an additional documentary requirement.
MARINA includes verification/inspection by a MARINA inspector of the applicant’s office/laboratory facilities, equipment, and personnel, plus assessment of implementation of a quality assurance system. An Inspection Report with findings and recommendations forms part of the evaluation requirements.
The certificate is valid for one (1) year and is renewable every year thereafter.
It provides a basis for withdrawal of accreditation after due process.
After due process: First offense—P50,000; Second offense—P75,000; Third and succeeding offenses—P100,000.
After due process, it may be a basis for suspension of the affected ship’s operation until replaced with an equipment approved by MARINA, plus a penalty not to exceed P100,000.
Companies/entities covered by the circular with valid and subsisting accreditation from other agencies (e.g., PCG) must apply for re-accreditation with MARINA upon the circular’s effectivity.
They must be checked and approved by MARINA inspectors from the concerned MARINA Maritime Regional Office. Directly imported safety equipment after effectivity must be inspected for type approval; if not type-approved, it must be inspected/tested and then approved by MARINA.
Fifteen (15) days after publication once in a newspaper of general circulation.