Chelsea backs Marina order on imported vessels

Listed Chelsea Logistics Holdings Corp. (CLC) expressed its support to regulator Maritime Industry Authority’s (MARINA) Circular 2017-04 or the Rules on Importation of Passenger Ships, which was issued by the MARINA Board last July 13 that seeks to assure the seaworthiness of local vessels. 

The primary objective of the circular, issued pursuant to Presidential Decree 474, Executive Orders 125 and 125-A, and Section 20 of Republic Act 9295 and its Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations, is to provide guidelines on the importation of passenger ships in order to ensure the continued viability of domestic shipping operations and to encourage the development of a viable shipbuilding and ship repair industry to support the expansion and modernization of the Philippine domestic merchant marine fleet and its strict adherence to safety standards which will ensure the seaworthiness of all sea-borne structures.

The salient provisions of MARINA circular refer to the age and size requirements of imported passenger vessels intended for domestic shipping, to wit:

Passenger ships to be imported under the circular should be no less than 500 gross tons (GT) and should not be more than 20 years old upon the filing of the application.

Fastcrafts of less than 500GT may be imported under this circular in the meantime pending issuance of another policy by the MARINA specifically for fastcrafts.

Ship re-structuring or re-building does not change the ship’s age. A day more than the maximum age required in the importation of the ship shall be more than the required maximum age requirement, hence, importation will no longer be allowed.”

CLC said its plans and programs are aligned with the objective of this circular to modernize the domestic shipping Industry.