Press Release: Marina inspects RoRo vessel

Marina OIC conducts random inspection of RoRo vessel in Batangas and Calapan Ports

The Officer-In-Charge of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has inspected at random a Batangas and Calapan Roll-on / Roll-off (RoRo) vessel at the Batangas Port to strenghen maritime safety measures and look for areas to further upgrade the domestic shipping industry in the Philippines, as part of its eight priority programs under the 10-year maritime industry development plan (MIDP) of MARINA. 

Photo courtesy of Marina

MARINA OIC Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr, together with Deputy Administrator for Operations Engr. Nanette Villamor-Dinopol; Capt. Rommel John Mendoza of the MARINA - Enforcement Service (ES); and Atty. Sharon Aledo of the MARINA Region IV, rode a RoRo vessel from Batangas City bound to Calapan, Oriental Mindoro to assess the maritime operations in these areas at the onset of the Lenten Season. 

Vice Admiral Vingson and his team inspected the basic condition of the passengers and observed compliances to cargo securing procedures of vehicles and trucks.

The MARINA OIC noted that the inspected RoRo vessel was generally clean with its engine room and emergency generator to be well-maintained and ventilated. Significantly, its sewage tank area was found safely secured and located in a separate compartment aboard ship that was also free from foul odor. 

Persons with Disabilities (PWD) elevator was also installed and accessible in the RoRo vessel, while the comfort rooms were well-managed and sanitized. 

However, there was a minor deficiency noted by the MARINA, wherein two drivers were seen inside their vehicles while the vessel was underway. 

Nonetheless, the deficiency was immediately rectified by the vessel’s crew, and requested the drivers to vacate their vehicles and stay at the passengers area for their safety.

“Maritime safety is non-negotiable. The MARINA is consistently working with the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the PPA to ensure that our sea passengers enjoy a safe, comfortable, and convenient travel at all times,” Vice Admiral Vingson said. 

Finally, the MARINA is calling all shipping operators across the country to uphold all the fundamental elements of the maritime safety. 

The public, meanwhile, is encouraged to report violations by filing a complaint through these contact details: 0995 400 7336 or +632 521 804.

Press Release: Marina

MARINA promotes quality management on shipbuilding, ship repair industry

GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) has promoted quality management on shipbuilding and ship repair (SBSR) industry through an intensive workshop on the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2015 on 10 – 11 April 2019.

ISO 9001:2015 focused on the implementation of an organization’s Quality Management System (QMS) for the consistent provision of efficient public service and implementation of effective business processes.

Fifty (50) representatives from various shipyards in Mindanao were briefed on the MARINA Circular 2018-02 or the SBSR – Quality Management System (QMS) and its draft amendments based on stakeholder suggestions raised at the 2^nd National Shipyards Convention held in Cebu City on November 2018. 

Some of the suggestions made were a more relaxed compliance policy, specifically for small shipyards in the country, and more reasonable worker requirements, such as hiring a permanent naval architect only for facilities engaged in shipbuilding and ship repair. 

The MARINA also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of Philippine Standards (DTI-BPS) to encourage the stakeholders to consider applying for ISO 9001:2015 certification through the presentation of its benefits such as more disciplined workforce, efficient operations, and commendable services. 

“Being ISO 9001:2015 - certified shows that our SBSR facilities are leveled or even better compared to the services offered by international shipyards. Our collective efforts to upgrade our facilities will result to a modernized SBSR industry, as envisioned in the 10-year Maritime Industry Development Plan (MIDP),” MARINA OIC Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr said.    

The workshop will also be conducted in Cebu City and in Manila this year to cater to SBSR stakeholders in Visayas and in Luzon respectively.

Press Release: Technology generators pitch innovations to DOST Regional Offices

Participants of ROs Meet Tech Gens on 04 February 2019
at the Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila. Photo by DOST

Agricultural technologies find home in the regions

The Technology Application and Promotion Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-TAPI) brought together the technology generators and DOST Regional Offices to facilitate a technology pitching on 04 February 2019 at the Crimson Hotel Filinvest City, Manila.

The event, “ROs Meet Tech Gens,” is a preparatory activity of the Technology Transfer Day which creates a venue to fast-track the adoption and commercialization of DOST-funded and -generated technologies.

A total of 21 technologies from the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources Research and Development (DOST-PCAARRD) and the Forest Products Research and Development Institute (DOST-FPRDI) were presented during the event.

“We want our technologies to find home to capable adoptors,” said DOST Undersecretary for Research and Development Rowena Cristina L. Guevara.

Discussed in the event are the step-by-step guide in technology transfer and adoption through the signing of the term sheets, issuance of the Fairness Opinion Report, and signing of the Technology Licensing Agreements.

Agricultural Machineries

Among the technologies presented are machines for agricultural productivity including the coffee depulper – helps reduce the breakage of coffee cherries and attain high quality coffee beans, coffee moisture meter – provides accurate results in determining the moisture content of coffee beans, peanut stripper – separates and sorts the peanut pods from the vines, and peanut sheller – separates and sorts the peanut kernels from the pods.

Innovative Infrastructures

Included in the offering are technological infrastructures for postharvest activities such as the coffee dryer which provides a drying alternative through a greenhouse-type solar dryer retrofitted with biomass furnace for coffee beans, operating at low temperature without electricity.

Moreover, the integrated postharvest facility for mango includes an automated table sorter, wash tank, hot water treatment, industrial fan, weight classifier, and table for packing.

Sustainable Nourishment

To ensure that agricultural products attain their maximum potential, it is important that their source has the optimal environment setting or nutritional status for growth and development.

Pellet feeds are bite-size pieces and nutritionally-balanced mixture of forage and grain ingredients, which provides nourishment to goats.

The protein-enriched copra meal (PECM) is the product of the bioprocessing of copra meal through solid state fermentation to improve its nutritive value.

Hi-Yeast is a yeast-based biocontrol agent (BCA) that prevents fruit and vegetable decay caused by pathogens during postharvest handling. This technology is designed as an alternative and/or supplement to reduce the use of chemicals in nature and reduce the human health and environmental risks that comes with the use of existing synthetic control agents.

Kakawate Fertilizer is an organic liquid plant supplement used for improving the flowering and fruiting of various plants including chili pepper, tomato, cucumber, eggplant, and squash.

MicroMix is a biostimulant composed of a consortium of bacteria that enhances the growth of crops, particularly bell pepper and bittergourd. It was developed as a response to the excessive use of costly chemical stimulants and fertilizers that significantly increases crop production costs.

Fraud Prevention

The meat detection kit authenticates and identifies various meats, and can be used by regulation agencies to prevent frauds in the meat industry.

Useful Wastes

To reduce wastage and environment impacts from byproducts, pineapple wastes are transformed into useful products through the forms of molded and briquetted coals for cooking, bran as feed supplements for chicken and fowls, and multi-use marinade or meat tenderizing product for food processing and other food preparation processes.

Forest Products

Forest products were also presented for the direct consumption or commercial use of stakeholders, such as the wine barrels from santol, high-pressure sap displacement (HPSD) system to force the bamboo sap out, do-it-yourself bamboo shelter, kiln for the production of bamboo charcoal, bamboo veneer lathe is for varying thickness bamboo veneers production, non-wood dryer, and dryer with heat facility for eliminating insect pests and disease-infesting wooden packaging materials.

DOST-TAPI S&T Media Service