THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) remains on top of maritime safety inspections under Republic Act 9993 or the New Coast Guard law.
"Maritime safety functions and inspec-tions will continue to remain with Marina," Marina administrator Emerson Lorenzo quoted a recent instruction from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC).
The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), on the other hand, will act as a complement to Marina.
"Marina will continue to determine the role of the Coast Guard in maritime safety and inspec-tions," Lorenzo added.
For a time, there was much discussion – and confusion — on which agency will take the lead role when it came to safety inspection under RA 9993.
Even if the agency preferred joint safety inspections, PCG commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the PCG was willing to accept any work assigned it by Marina "as long as this is properly determined and detailed. The Coast Guard should know what to inspect."
Tamayo added, "The implementing rules and regulations of RA 9993 are already resolved and it is now just between Marina and PCG to determine delineation of duties."
At the moment all safety inspections, including during drydocking and vessel alteration and checking of life-saving equipment and documentation, are conducted by Marina personnel. PCG is confined to pre-departure inspection which, according to Tamayo, will change with the passage of RA 9993.
Both Marina and PCG are mum on which agency will take the lead during sea mishaps.
