Question & AnswerQ&A (MIA MARINA Circular No. 2015-03)
The main objective is to categorize the navigational areas/waters in the Philippines where all domestic ships operate and navigate, rationalize the operation areas specially for wooden hull ships below 35 GT and motorbancas/motorboats with outriggers, and serve as a basis for reviewing existing rules on licensing, safe manning, and life-saving equipment.
It applies to all Philippine-registered ships of any size operating in Philippine waters engaged in commercial operations, except fishing vessels and government-owned ships not engaged in transporting goods and people.
Domestic Shipping refers to the transport of passengers or cargo, or both, by ships duly registered and licensed under Philippine law to engage in trade and commerce between Philippine ports and within Philippine territorial or internal waters, for hire or compensation, with general or limited clientele, whether permanent, occasional, or incidental, for contractual or commercial purposes.
Protected Water is a body of water totally enclosed by land or generally enclosed by land with a small area facing the open sea (like a harbor or river), or a bay surrounded by mountainous terrain not more than ten nautical miles in diameter, or protected by mountainous islands, and covers navigable areas within three nautical miles from the nearest land, with average wind speed less than 10 knots and wave height less than 3.5 feet.
Coastal Water covers navigable areas more than three nautical miles from the nearest land, with average wind speed exceeding 10 knots and average wave height over 3.5 feet, whereas Protected Water is within three nautical miles and has milder weather and hydrographic conditions.
Open Sea refers to navigable waters within the Philippine jurisdiction that are not classified as Protected or Coastal Waters.
A Domestic Ship Operator or Owner must be a Filipino citizen, a commercial partnership wholly owned by Filipinos, or a corporation with at least 60% Filipino ownership, duly authorized by MARINA to engage in domestic shipping.
A Certificate of Public Convenience (CPC) is the license or authority issued by MARINA allowing a domestic ship operator to engage in domestic shipping operations.
They may still be allowed to operate after expiration of their CPCs if no available port exists in the area, subject to safety and operational regulations.
Measures include identifying safer operation routes, providing alternative materials and designs for ships, offering affordable financing schemes for bigger ships suited for hazardous areas, and coordinating with government agencies to establish cooperatives to acquire bigger, safer ships.