Marina rolls out ship modernization program

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) has started rolling out its domestic ship modernization program starting out with motor bancas in Batangas City. With the shift from wood to a technologically-advanced hull materials, the Marina expects domestic vessels to be faster, efficient, and resilient for the enhancement of maritime safety in the country. The Marina, along with the Development Bank of the Philippines Leasing Corporation (DLC) and Department of Finance (DOF), oriented 80 motorbanca owners and operators from region 4 on the importance of upgrading wooden-hulled motorbancas into either steel, aluminum, or fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) boats. “Safety of life at sea is primordial to Marina and ship modernization is a step towards attaining this objective,” says Marina Domestic Shipping Service Director Sonia Malaluan, citing the motorbanca modernization as the first phase of Marina’s domestic ship modernization program. As it is committed to provide full support to its stakeholders, the Marina has partnered with DOF’s Municipal Development Fund Office (MDFO) to open the Municipal Development Fund (MDF) to motorbanca owners who will modernize their boats. To further aid the motorbanca owners, the Marina will also provide incentives, capability, and capacity building, as well as guidance in establishing cooperatives that can offer additional financial support during the implementation of the program. (EVA)