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The Philippine Ports Authority designated anchorage areas for vessels calling at Pasig port and other docks along the Pasig River
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The designation under PPA Memorandum Circular No. 017-2026 aims to provide controlled waiting and operational areas for qualified vessels, and support safe and orderly ship-to-ship and ship-to-barge operations
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The memo also aims to reduce vessel queuing, transit time, and berth congestion, and improve vessel turnaround and marine operations
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) has designated anchorage areas for vessels calling at Pasig port and other ports along the Pasig River.
The designation under PPA Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 017-2026 aims to provide controlled waiting and operational areas for qualified vessels, and support safe and orderly ship-to-ship and ship-to-barge operations in ports along Pasig River. There was no anchorage area designated for Pasig port prior to MC No. 017-2026.
The MC, dated October 19, also aims to reduce vessel queuing, transit time, and berth congestion, and improve vessel turnaround and marine operations, and also to strengthen monitoring, traffic management, and navigational safety within the designated anchorage areas.
The designated anchorage areas under MC No. 017-2026 will be primarily used by vessels, barges, and lighters calling at, waiting to proceed to, or carrying cargoes bound for or originating from the Port of Pasig and other ports along the Pasig River.
The use of the anchorage areas will be subject to prior coordination with, and approval/assignment by PPA’s Port Management Office NCR South-Terminal Management Office (TMO) Pasig and Pasig River port operator Mega Lifters Cargo Handling Corp. (MLCHC), as applicable.
The following coordinates comprise the designated anchorage areas for the Port of Pasig:
- Anchorage No. 2-Latitude 14° 34′ 55.39″ N, Longitude 120° 54′ 36.78″ Е
- Anchorage No. 4-Latitude 14° 35′ 20.77″ N, Longitude 120° 53′ 40.25″ E
- Anchorage No. 5-Latitude 14° 35′ 40.94″ N, Longitude 120° 54′ 02.50″ E
- Anchorage No. 6-Latitude 14° 35′ 07.83″ N, Longitude 120° 55′ 05.23″ E
- Anchorage No. 7-Latitude 14° 35′ 13.89″ N, Longitude 120° 55′ 35.63″ E
No vessel should anchor in or use the designated anchorage areas for purposes other than those authorized by PPA.
Moreover, no vessel should anchor, moor, or lie in the approaches to a port or principal fairway, navigation channel, or in any position that may obstruct vessel traffic, interfere with the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) entrance channel or other existing anchorage points, or foul another vessel already anchored.
Coordination with other agencies
TMO Pasig should coordinate with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Manila Bay Harbor Pilots’ Partnership (MBHPP), National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), MICT operator International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI), and other affected stakeholders, as may be necessary, to ensure the safe, orderly, and efficient implementation of MC No. 017-2026.
TMO Pasig should also periodically review the designated anchorage areas and ensure that they remain free from navigational hazards.
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TMO Pasig has also been tasked to disseminate the new designated anchorage areas to concerned port users and stakeholders, and should coordinate with NAMRIA for the appropriate updating of the official nautical chart, as may be warranted.
Vessel masters, owners, operators, agents, and service providers using the designated anchorage areas should comply with all applicable PPA, PCG, Maritime Industry Authority, Bureau of Customs, environmental, safety, security, and other government requirements. They should likewise observe all instructions issued by TMO Pasig, and other competent authorities.—Roumina Pablo
