MARINA to accredit cruise ships operating beyond 20 yrs

FILE: MARINA Administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero (Photo: Maritime Industry Authority/Facebook)

MANILA — The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) announced that cruise ships that have been in service for over twenty years will undergo a process of accreditation to ensure the seaworthiness of ocean vessels traversing along the Philippine seas.

This, as the agency said it supports the development of the cruise shipping industry to strengthen tourism in the country.

“We are encouraging companies to operate cruise ships in the Philippines. By kickstarting the cruise shipping industry, we aim to advance local maritime industry through the boosting of Philippine tourism,” MARINA Administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero said in a statement Wednesday.

MARINA said it will be strictly implementing policies for the acquisition and operation of local cruise ships including their accreditation to ensure maritime safety and security by September this year.

It is likewise open to grant special permits to foreign cruise ships to operate in areas that are not currently serviced by local cruise ships.

Furthermore, newly built or previously owned cruise ships will be mandated to be classified by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and must adhere to its regulations on maritime safety and protection.

For its part, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has earlier said that it is developing international hubs for cruise liners in Metro Manila, Davao, Bohol, Boracay, Cebu, Puerto Princesa, Subic and Zamboanga to support the cruise tourism industry.

The PPA has also initiated programs for the development of cruise terminals in the ports of Puerto Princesa, Currimao in Ilocos Norte and Catagbacan in Bohol Province.

As of January this year, cruise tourism arrivals registered an increase of 1,952.82% to 9,156 passsengers from only 446 for the same period last year.

The other areas that posted positive cruise tourism arrivals include Coron, Boracay and South Harbor.