Scope and Coverage
- Covers reports of non-compliance, maritime violations, complaints, grievances, and observed suspicious or illegal activities onboard Philippine-registered ships.
- Includes feedback such as comments and suggestions submitted via the MARINA telephone hotline and SMS service.
Key Definitions
- Complaint/Grievance: An expression of dissatisfaction related to an unjust act.
- Maritime Violation: Non-compliance with applicable maritime laws, rules, policies, and issuances.
- Suspicious Illegal/Unlawful Activity: Behavior indicative of potential security threats to ships or persons.
General Provisions
- Encourages all concerned individuals to report maritime violations and provide feedback through MARINA Hotline No. 2985 (AZUL), accessible to major cellular subscribers.
- The SMS service additionally disseminates news, updates, and relevant information to partners, clients, and the public.
- Hotline and SMS services operate 24/7 to receive reports or feedback.
- Domestic ship owners/operators and Masters must post MARINA Hotline posters onboard ships and terminals.
- Port authorities must display MARINA Hotlines visibly in their compounds.
- All reports, especially those about violations and grievances, are confidential.
Specific Reporting Provisions
- Callers or texters should provide detailed information including nature of violation, involved parties, ship name, evidence, and specifics of date, time, and location.
- No registration required to use the SMS service; format: MARINA
<name/message> sent to 2985. - Respondents receive automated confirmations and may text MARINA HELP for instructions.
- Anonymous reports with sufficient detail and evidence will be acted upon; vague or unsupported reports will be disregarded.
- Reports indicating substantial legal violations will be promptly investigated.
- Each report is acknowledged with a reference/case number; additional information may be submitted citing this number.
- Valid reports are forwarded to MARINA deputized agents for verification and confirmation.
- Informants whose validated reports result in verified violations receive a reward of P50 phone load credit.
Sanctions
- Failure by domestic ship owners/operators and Masters to display MARINA Hotline posters results in administrative fines as follows:
- First Offense: P10,000
- Second Offense: P20,000
- Third Offense: P30,000
Repeal and Effectivity
- All inconsistent MARINA Circulars, rules, and issuances are amended or repealed.
- The Circular takes effect on March 23, 2009, following publication in a newspaper of general circulation.