- The Maritime Industry Authority is authorizing the use of digitally-signed certificates for all Philippine-registered ships engaged in international trade
- MARINA Advisory No. 2022-68 is in keeping with the International Maritime Organization Facilitation Committee’s issuance in April 2016 of guidelines for the use of electronic certificates
- It also heeds the call of the Indian Register of Shipping to enhance delivery of statutory certificates on board vessels
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has approved the use and acceptance of digitally-signed certificates for all Philippine-registered ships engaged in international trade.
The move is in view of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Facilitation Committee (FAL) issuance in April 2016 of guidelines for the use of electronic certificates (Circular Letter No. FAL.5/Circ39/Rev.2); it also heeds the call of the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) to enhance delivery of statutory certificates on board vessels.
MARINA noted the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in travel restrictions and in some instances, disruption of mail delivery and courier services.
MARINA Advisory (MA) No. 2022-68, signed by MARINA Administrator Hernani Fabia and published on December 20, provides guidelines for the use of electronic certificates for all Philippine-registered ships engaged in international trade.
It aims to establish a recognized set of features that will help alleviate problems inherent in paper documentation and will facilitate MARINA’s move toward the use and acceptance of electronic certificate.
Under MA 2022-68, all steps should be taken to ensure that the electronic certificates contain certain features, including:
- validity and consistency with the format and content required by the relevant international convention or instrument;
- protection from edits, modifications or revisions;
- unique tracking number used for verification; and
- printable and with visible symbol that confirms the source of issuance.
Shipowners, operators and crews on ships that carry and use electronic certificates should also ensure the certificates are controlled through a safety management system, as described in Section 11 of the IMO International Safety Management Code. Electronic signatures, meanwhile, should meet authentication standards as adopted by MARINA.
The information contained in the electronic certificates, including confirmation of periodic endorsements that are issued by MARINA as the flag state administration of the country and statutory certificates issued by recognized organizations acting on behalf of MARINA, should be made available onboard Philippine-registered ships in accordance with pertinent IMO instruments.
MA 2022-68 noted that the verification process should be reliable, secure, and continuously available to confirm the authenticity and validity of an electronic certificate using unique tracking number and other data contained or embedded in the electronic certificate. – Roumina Pablo
