In the recently concluded DOTC/MARINA and IMO-sponsored “National Forum on Safety of Domestic Ferries” held last September 9-11, 2013, our President, Procopio V. Vergel de Dios, Jr., presented the topic “Role of Classification Societies in the Safety of Domestic Ferries”. He said that classification societies are private non-profit organizations and can only assist governments in the promotion of safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment. Unless contracted by the shipowner, the society cannot even intervene to class vessels. And when it does intervene, it’s role is limited to determining the hull integrity and reliability of machineries and equipment through periodic surveys. Statutory surveys and certifications covering such matters as loadline, stability, safety equipment and radiotelegraphy, to name a few, are done by governments unless delegated to class societies. Internationally, it is now commonplace for governments to delegate these statutory services to classification societies which our President said should also be done at the local level to benefit more from the “assistance role” of the local class society.
In the Philippine setting, he continued, the “assistance” role of class societies is limited to classing. Statutory services are not delegated. Worse, there are many competing local class societies which the shipowners can “shop” for lesser cost and flexibility which are not good for safety. Explaining what “lesser cost” means, our President said that quality services requires quality surveyors and quality surveyors needs quality compensation. If the fees paid are not even enough to hire and maintain quality surveyors, safety is compromised. Worse he said is “flexibility” in the postponement of repairs and issuance of interim or provisional certificates just to get and maintain the patronage of the shipowner. The strictness of the surveyor in rejecting postponement of repairs often result in shipowners changing from one classification society to another to avoid the expense and loss of business opportunities in carrying out the repairs. This, he said, is not good for safety.
Concluding, our President said that the solution is to implement the single classification society policy which was already adopted under MARINA Memorandum Circular 2009-24. Once implemented, the shipowner would no longer have a choice if he cannot get what he wants in terms of postponement of repairs and requests for interim or provisional certificates. It would lead to safer ships because the single society chosen cannot afford to commit mistakes inasmuch as acceptance of its work can only be maintained by continuously demonstrating integrity and competence.
The forum ended in a positive note with MARINA promising to include in the Technical Working Group agenda the recommendation to implement the single classification society policy.
Sitting at center is MARINA Administrator M. Mejia. Jr. (Standing) fourth from right is PRS President Atty. Vergel de Dios, Jr.
From right is PRS President Atty. P. V. Vergel de Dios, Jr., Board Member Carlos Yturzaeta and Emmanuel Danion, Chief Country Executive Bureau Veritas (BV)
