By Genivi Factao

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) yesterday said that it plans to issue registration plates for ships starting this year.

Marina administrator Vicente Suazo said the plates akin to those issued by the Land Transportation Office to car owners, will enable the government to better track the vessels.

He said that it is unfortunate that the Philippine vessels do not have a record. when it was acquired, when it was refurbished and others.

"Within the year the vessels will be ‘baptized’ and would be assigned a ship marking plate. We will re-register all the vessels," he said.

The plates will be required to be displayed prominently inside the vessel.

"We don’t want them to think that it’s an additional cost for them. We want them to see the benefits."he said.

He added that this is also a requirement from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to have the vessels numbered.

The total number of Filipino owned vessels, including passenger, cargo, and hull except pump boat were 5,000, of which about 1,500 tankers were container vessels nationwide.

"Within the year, we will also work on the harmonization of the certificates to easily know the expiry dates," he said.

Normally, the vessels were issued around 20 certificates. Marina is working to make the filing for certificates in one day to facilitate the delivery of service.

Marina has issued an order that its inspectors check the logbook , in order not to conduct a series of inspection in a certain vessel.

Marina personnel conduct random inspection at least after every 6 months.

Meanwhile, Marina will extend the special permit of Singapore-based MCC Transport Pte Ltd., which it issued last year to ensure the fast movement of containerized cargo.

"I will not sacrifice the movement of cargo. If there are other shipping lines that will offer their services in place of MCC Transport, I would grant them the permit," Suazo said.

MCC Philippines informed Marina of its plan to convert one of its vessels, Medbay, to Philippine flag.

MCC Philippines is owned by MCC Transport Singapore Pte Ltd., Aboitiz Transport System Corp. and Mercantile Ocean Maritime Co.

Aboitiz has sold 3 of its vessels, SuperFerry 15, SuperFerry 17 and SuperFerry 18 which led to shortage in container vessels.