The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is crafting a safety action plan as it aims for zero maritime accidents in the Philippines by 2025.
“It’s not only for the safety of passengers but to ensure that our shipping industry grows and we’re able to provide not only secure, but also safe shipping services,” Marina administrator Rey Leonardo Guerrero told media in an interview on the sidelines of the agency’s Maritime Safety Forum on September 25.
To achieve the target of reducing maritime accidents by half in 2021 and zero accidents by 2025, Guerrero said there should be strict and effective implementation of rules and regulations, close inter-agency coordination, effective information dissemination; and quality training and education of involved parties.
Guerrero noted that Marina has recorded an increase in maritime incidents this year compared to previous years due to enhanced monitoring, which is now done in real time though the use of technology and close coordination with other government agencies.
Majority of incidents, he noted, involve ships running aground and simple accidents.
Guerrero said he can’t stress enough the importance of safety in the maritime industry as the Philippines experiences an average of 20 typhoons yearly and other natural calamities.
He said that while natural calamities cannot be prevented, their effects can be mitigated through preparation and proactive response.
The maritime authority chief also noted the high dependence on maritime transportation to bridge the archipelagic country and sustain economic activities.
The Marina chief said the maritime safety action plan will be part of its 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP) set to be finished this year and rolled out next year. The MIDP is a master plan with a decade-long vision for a well-developed and globally oriented maritime industry.
