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The Maritime Industry Authority has revised rules on minimum safe manning for Philippine-registered ships operating in domestic waters
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The unnumbered MC introduces key changes that align manning requirements with vessel types and operations
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The policy seeks to address concerns of maritime stakeholders particularly on hiring and retaining seafarers for domestic operations
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The Minimum Safety Manning Certificate will now be valid for five years instead of one year, but the fees for securing the certificate will remain the same
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) revised its rules on minimum safe manning for Philippine-registered ships operating in domestic waters to address manning shortage in domestic shipping.
The revision, approved by the MARINA Board in a meeting on July 30 following consultations with stakeholders, amends MARINA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. MS-2020-03, the rules on safe manning for ships operating in Philippine waters.
The currently unnumbered MC introduces key changes that align manning requirements with vessel types and operations while also supporting career growth of qualified Filipino seafarers, particularly those with longer sea service or experience.
“There is a perceived shortage of qualified seafarers (for deployment) in domestic shipping so we are addressing such a challenge,” MARINA administrator Sonia Malaluan said in a recent press briefing.
MARINA Maritime Safety Service officer-in-charge Divinagracia Tolosa, during the same briefing, said the policy seeks to address concerns of maritime stakeholders particularly on hiring and retaining qualified seafarers for domestic operations. These challenges, she noted, stem from labor shortage skill gaps, competition with overseas employment, and disparities in compensation and working conditions.
A provision under the new MC allows ship officers holding licenses to assume higher position provided they possess the required qualification.
For example, an officer allowed to command a vessel up to 500 gross tons (GT) may now command a vessel up to 1,000 GT, provided there’s compliance with additional qualification requirements on the seagoing experience.
Malaluan noted that one of the barriers for domestic shipping operators to modernize or expand is the availability of qualified crew. With this new provision, Malaluan said it would be easier for domestic shipping owners to buy bigger or more modern ships since their current crew may qualify and continue to work on the new ship.
Teodoro Franco Omega of Roble Shipping, a member of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association, during the same briefing welcomed the new MC, saying it addresses the low supply and high demand for domestic seafarers.
In addition, the Minimum Safety Manning Certificate (MSMC) will now be valid for five years instead of one year, but the fees for securing the certificate will remain the same.
The new MC also no longer carries a provision for applications or requests for the reduction of manning complements; it instead introduces a table on minimum safe manning scale with different conditions.
Tolosa explained that under previous rules, safe manning requirements are “very general.” But given the different conditions in shipping operations such as ship size, trading, and travel distance, shipping operators opt to choose or propose their minimum manning requirements, subject to evaluation and approval of MARINA evaluators.
Under the new MC, this option is no longer available, removing the need for evaluation on a case-to-case basis. Instead, there is a table that indicates comprehensive minimum safe manning requirements on various conditions.
To support smooth transition, current MSMCs will remain valid until expiration. The shipping company may opt to secure a new MSMC compliant with the new MC.
Officers with valid licenses may assume higher capacity provided they possess the required seagoing experience based on the table of minimum safe manning scale under the new MC. Such officers will not be required to possess the appropriate Domestic Certificate of Competency until January 2026. – Roumina Pablo
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