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The Maritime Industry Authority will allow manual applications for permits and certificates until March 31, 2025
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This is to avoid disruption in the operation of maritime and shipping entities
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Documents, letters-approval, certificates, permits and similar documents issued without a QR code from the MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Certification System will remain valid until their expiry date or until sooner replaced
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) will allow manual application for permits and certificates until March 31, 2025 as it addresses issues in the implementation of the MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Certification System (MARINA BEST).
MARINA Advisory (MA) Number 2024-34 dated October 4 said the order aims to avoid delay and disruption in the operation of maritime and shipping entities.
Documents, letters-approval, certificates, permits and similar documents issued without a QR code from MARINA BEST will remain valid until their expiry date or until sooner replaced, according to MA 2024-34.
MARINA BEST, which began implementation on July 1, 2024, allows maritime entities, including ship owners and operators, and ship building and ship repair companies, to electronically transact all processes with the agency, from application to release of certificates, licenses, letter approvals, and documents.
READ: MARINA rolls out electronic processing of applications
The system consolidates and integrates all information systems being used by the different MARINA service units and offices. The blockchain technology secures data from unauthorized changes.
MARINA BEST covers shipyard operators, seafarers, ship owners/operators, license manning agencies, payment gateways, employees, Department of Health-accredited clinics, assessment centers, maritime training institutions, maritime higher education institutions, and other concerned government agencies.
All clients must register with the system.
MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan had asked for understanding as there may be birth pains during initial implementation of the system and as they build an electronic database based on submission of stakeholders. She said it may take three to six months before implementation becomes smooth.
The rollout does not yet include applications for issuance of Certificate of Public Convenience, special permits, and provisional authority, which will be covered by the system by July 1, 2025.
Malaluan said they expect that a year after the roll out, or by July 2025, all certificates and issuances by MARINA will be QR-coded, allowing for online verification and validation. As a transitory provision, all permanent documents such as those without expiry dates issued before July 1, 2024 and without QR code will be re-issued free of charge, according to MA No. 2024-28, which provides guidelines on the implementation of MARINA BEST.
Applications for seafarers’ certification will continue to be filed online through the MARINA Integrated Seafarers Management Online.
The Seafarer’s Identity Document and Seafarer’s Record Book system will also continue to operate separately from MARINA BEST.
The new system is part of MARINA’s broader push towards digitalizing its services. MARINA BEST aims to enhance the agency’s online services, paving the way for contactless transactions from application to release of certificates, licenses, letter approvals, and documents. The project uses blockchain technology to keep data secured from unauthorized changes. It is meant to provide an efficient unified information system to improve internal productivity and secure data access. – Roumina Pablo
