Marina OIC admin’s priorities welcomed

The priorities of the new Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) officer-in-charge (OIC) administrator to modernize the domestic fleet, digitalize the agency’s services and comply with international shipping conventions received support from industry stakeholders.

Retired Rear Admiral Loumer Bernabe took over the helm of Marina from the retiring former administrator Sonia Malaluan on 30 October.

“Recognizing the nation’s reliance on inter-island shipping for trade, commerce, and passenger transport, Marina’s current leadership is pushing for safer, greener, and energy-efficient vessels to replace aging hulls across the archipelago,” Capt. Jess Morales, chairman of the Philippine Association of Coastal and Inland Water Ferries, Inc. and president of the Leyte-based IMP Shipyard Inc., said on Wednesday.

Marina has been streamlining vessel registration, licensing and seafarer certification through integrated online platforms to enhance operational efficiency, reduce administrative bottlenecks, and eliminate red tape.

Morales said Bernabe has plans for data-driven maritime safety, including the deployment of digital tracking and real-time monitoring systems to strictly enforce safety regulations and improve emergency response capabilities across sea routes.

He is also inclined to implement operational efficiency if he is appointed as full-fledged Marina chief, as he wants to align internal agency procedures with modern administrative technologies to foster transparency and swift regulatory processes for vessel owners and maritime stakeholders.

“A crucial benchmark for RAdm Bernabe’s tenure is preparing the Philippines for the upcoming IMO Member State Audit Scheme in June 2027. The mandatory audit by the International Maritime Organization will evaluate the country’s effectiveness in implementing and enforcing key international maritime conventions covering safety of life at sea, marine environment protection, seafarer training standards, and flag-state control,” Morales added.

Jennifer Cuerdo, president of Metro Shipbuilders and Ship Repairers Association Inc., said she regards Bernabe as a proven and seasoned administrator who can guarantee regulatory continuity while reinforcing national commitments to comprehensive maritime reforms.

“Under Rear Admiral Bernabe’s operational oversight, Marina is strengthening regulatory enforcement, updating national maritime safety policies, and harmonizing domestic laws with international standards. Ensuring full compliance during the June 2027 audit is vital to safeguarding the global standing of the Philippine flag and maintaining the reputation of Filipino seafarers worldwide,” Cuerdo said.