SHIPPING stakeholders will soon submit to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) a list of things the new administration should consider when coming up with a masterplan for the shipping industry.
A planning session attended by members of the Philippine Liner Shipping Association (PLSA) and the Philippine Petroleum Sea Transport Association (Philpesta) late last week identified infrastructure development as crucial to industry progress along with competition. The groups are specifically pushing for at least two cargo-handlers for every port.
They are also batting for a cap on fees, particularly on pilotage.
The wish list will also include a call for the strengthening of the cabotage law. PLSA and Philpesta claimed some foreign shipping lines are skirting the cabotage law by virtue of special permits issued by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).
These carriers, the groups said, should never have been given special permits in the first place considering the capacity surplus in Philippine-flag ships.
On safety, PLSA and Philpesta are proposing to Marina and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) an assessment of local crew competency as well as a compliance audit of all maritime schools.
PLSA and Philpesta noted that while the student population among maritime schools is increasing, the number of graduates has not kept pace due to the inability of some schools to provide the required one-year apprenticeship program.
Marina and PCG are also being asked to release inspection standards and train their pool of inspectors.
