The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) called for a consultation meeting to present the final draft of the proposed Philippine Fishing Vessel Rules and Regulations (PFVSRR). The consultation was held last September 10, 2018 at Sun City Suites, GenSan. It was attended by different fishing vessel operators and personnel, representatives from the academe, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Navy and Philippine Coast Guard, as well as other concerned government agencies.
The presented PFVSRR “is geared towards ensuring that all fishing vessels of Philippine ownership and/or registry are so designed, constructed, maintained, operated and inspected in accordance with the standards necessary to enhance the safety of life and property at sea as well as the protection of the marine environment”. It included the following chapters - Registration, Documentation and Licensing of Fishing Vessels, Surveys and Certificates, Construction, Repairs, Conversion and Rebuilding, Stability, Machinery Installations, Electrical Installations, Safe Manning, Certification, Training and Watchkeeping for Fishermen, Tonnage Measurement, Life Saving Appliances, Fire Protection, Fire Extinction and Fire Safety Measures, Communications, Safety of Navigation, Occupational Safety and Health, Environment, Handline Fishing Boats, and Marine Investigation and Disciplinary Proceedings.
The Philippine Fishing Vessel Safety Rules and Regulation was a result of the Fishing Vessel Technical Working Group’s review to revise the existing Philippine Merchant Marine Rules and Regulations (PMMRR) 1997. SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII) led the TWG to draft the Fishing Vessel Safety Rules and Regulations.
MARINA created a separate regime for fishing vessels from the existing PMMRR 1997. To come up with comprehensive regulations for the maritime industry, MARINA created a Task Force to undertake a review and revision of PMMRR. Eight Technical Working Groups (TWGs) were formed and these are: 1) Ship Building/Ship Repair/Ship Conversion; 2) Ship Safety and Occupational Safety/Health/Environment; 3) Manpower Development (Maritime Education, Training and Certification); 4) Domestic Shipping (Roro/Wooden Hulled); 5) Overseas Shipping (Flag Registry); 6) Fishing Vessels; 7) Pleasure Craft/Special Vessels/Tourism Application; and 8) Off-shore vessels.
Technical Working Group for Fishing Vessel was chaired by the SOCSKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries, Inc. (SFFAII). SFFAII submitted the initial draft on January 13, 2018 to the MARINA Board for review and was approved last September 20, 2018. The said rules and regulations shall take effect after the 15 days of publication.
