Manila: The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association (PCSA) are considering changes to the minimum safe manning rules for domestic ships. In a statement on Wednesday, MARINA announced that it held a consultation with PCSA to discuss proposed revisions for Philippine-registered ships operating in domestic waters.

According to Philippines News Agency, the two-day session aimed to align manning standards with current maritime practices, enhance vessel safety, and address industry concerns related to training, deployment, and operational capacity. MARINA Chief of Staff Ronaldo Bandalaria highlighted the agency's collaborative approach to the proposed revisions, ensuring that all concerns raised by the PCSA would be thoroughly reviewed.

PCSA officer-in-charge administrator Cesar Licudine expressed gratitude to MARINA for the initiative and reiterated the association's commitment to establishing safe and practical manning requirements tailored to domestic operations. The event saw participation from several MARINA and PCSA executives, along with representatives from major shipping companies, who actively engaged in reviewing the draft proposals.