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The Maritime Industry Authority reminded ship operators that no passenger should be allowed to board without a valid and duly-issued passenger ticket
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MARINA Advisory No. 2026-16 also reiterated to all shipowners/operators and masters of domestic vessels that the mandatory issuance of tickets prior to boarding should be observed at all times
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The reiteration is “in the interest of public safety, the protection of life at sea, and the promotion of orderly, transparent, and accountable passenger ship operations”
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) again stressed that no passenger should be allowed to board any domestic passenger vessel without a valid and duly-issued passenger ticket.
The agency, through MARINA Advisory (MA) No. 2026-16, also reiterated to all shipowners/operators and masters of domestic vessels that the mandatory issuance of tickets prior to boarding should be observed at all times.
MARINA also noted that the practice of accommodating unticketed passengers, whether by tolerance or omission, is strictly prohibited.
Moreover, effective boarding control procedures should be maintained to ensure that only properly ticketed passengers are permitted to embark.
The reiteration is “in the interest of public safety, the protection of life at sea, and the promotion of orderly, transparent, and accountable passenger ship operations, and in furtherance of the Administration’s policy to strengthen maritime safety, security, and regulatory compliance in domestic shipping,” MA No. 2026-16, dated March 25, noted.
The advisory also reiterated strict compliance to the requirement of timely submission of passenger manifests to the Philippine Coast Guard and other concerned government agencies.
Submission of an electronic passenger manifest should be deemed compliant, provided it has complied with the form and content of prescribed passenger manifest.
The manifest should accurately reflect the true number and identities of passengers onboard. Any discrepancy will constitute a serious safety and regulatory violation.
The master and shipowner/operator will be jointly responsible for ensuring that only properly ticketed passengers are boarded, that all passengers are duly recorded in the manifest, and that no vessel departs without a complete and verified passenger manifest.
Non-compliance with MA No. 2026-16 will be dealt with in accordance with existing MARINA rules and regulations and may result in the imposition of administrative fines and penalties, suspension or revocation of certificates, permits, or authorities, and the institution of other appropriate administrative actions.
The advisory was also issued as an interim and immediate regulatory measure, pending the approval and issuance of MARINA’s proposed rules and regulations on the mandatory implementation of shipping online ticketing system (SOTS) for inter-island passenger ships, to institutionalize stricter passenger control and documentation measures in domestic shipping.
READ: Online ticketing system mandatory for inter-island passenger ships
MARINA on March 25 published MARINA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. DS-2026-01, which institutionalizes the use of SOTS for inter-island passenger ships. The MC, signed on March 18 and effective 15 days after its publication on March 25, specifically aims to promote digital transformation and operational efficiency in the maritime transport passenger sector by requiring the adoption of secure, interoperable, and user-friendly online ticketing platforms.—Roumina Pablo
