Now that summer is here, expect thousands to travel to the beaches for personal vacations, office rest and recreation breaks, and family outings. Chances are, for a number of these trips, the roll-on, roll-offs (roros) will be part of the journey.
Not to be a spoilsport, we all know that most of our roros are old, and worse, have not been maintained as well as they should be. In fact, even in the absence of foul weather, many countries with a sizeable number of expats working in the Philippines have advised their nationals not to use our roros.
If the current state of our roros is not good enough for our foreign visitors, then Filipinos should also heed this warning. It’s pathetic that our government, knowing that many Filipinos cannot afford alternative (and more expensive) modes of transport, is taking its sweet time in bringing about the right reforms for the industry.
Several recommendations were made by concerned members of the shipping industry, which were aired in previous columns. The beauty of these proposed reforms is that any implementation does not need legislative action, just as what happened in the oil bunkering sector.
It’s all up to the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to act and issue the required circulars. Yet, Marina does not seem to be acting on this issue at all. Is Marina waiting for another disaster?
Simple steps
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It doesn’t really need a lot of research to implement the kind of reforms that should be properly observed in the shipping industry. All it needs is political will to push for the changes that will rebound to saving thousands of lives in the future.
First on the list is the complete ban on the importation of second-hand roros of 5,000 gross tonnage and below that are 20 years and older. Most of these roros have been banned from the countries that sell to us. Just like second-hand vehicle engines, importation of these should banned as well.
What follows next is setting a maximum life for roros that operate on Philippine waters. This is for the good of the industry as well as the passengers’ safety.
Since setting a maximum life for roros could be expensive for ship owners, we can phase this. We can start with those that are over 35 years old effective in five years time. Then we can lower the age limit successively in the next years until all vessels are in conformity with world standards.
There has to be a ban also on modifications or retrofitting on second-hand purchases unless approved and supervised by a member of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). This is to ensure that the new build will be able to withstand rough Philippine seas.
Classed and insured
Then, let’s have our roros fully classed, preferably by an IACS member. This will ensure that our ferries are properly classed and maintained, and more importantly, qualified by insurance companies.
This will lead to wider insurance coverage, not only of passenger lives, but also of third party liabilities including passengers’ medical needs and death benefits, damage to properties and the marine environment, and wreck removal.
Modernizing our ferry system can and should be done. We have seen the strategic importance to commerce and human productivity that efficient, safe and well-maintained ROROs have in developed countries.
From our readers
We have several letters from our readers.
From Gerardo Atienza, one of our new readers, is an email on the topic in today’s column. He writes:
“I refer to your series of articles on the sad state of our roro industry. It is indeed welcome news to learn that there are roro operators who are investing in new and modern roros, built specifically for Philippine waters.
“I hope that other roro operators will follow their lead and replace their ageing vessels with new and modern ones.
“We must never forget that the worst maritime disasters in the Philippines happened onboard old and decrepit roro vessels. And I hope that the government will set the proper policies in place to completely modernize the roro industry at the soonest possible time.”
This next one comes from Dennis Lacson, another reader. He writes: “Your series of articles on the sad state of roro vessels reminds me of the tragic sinking of the passenger liner, ‘Princess of the Orient,’ which resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives.
“What makes it more appalling is that the vessel is still in the water with the fore part protruding above the surface. The owners did not carry third party insurance which should have ensured that the wreckage will eventually be pulled out.
“I do not know why the Marina did not require the owners (who are still allowed to operate other vessels) to remove the sunken ship, which is clearly a navigational and safety hazard for ships passing by that area. Is our government blind or simply does not care at all?”
And finally, from my brother, Ret. Lt. Col. Roberto Gamboa Jr. He says: “Your series of articles regarding roro vessels plying our waters should raise an alarm on the part of government officials and shipping industry leaders.
“Given the sad state of our roro vessels, it is not surprising that we have one of the worst records of maritime disasters in the world, not to mention the huge damage dealt on our environment by these accidents.”
Continued prodding
Letters such as these from our readers, friends, and family members embolden me further to pursue this advocacy for reforms in the shipping industry, specifically on the dismal state of majority of the country’s roro vessels.
We’ve seen a number of enlightened ship owners who have made the decision to modernize their roro fleet to ensure that their passengers are safe, especially during inclement weather conditions. They have also illustrated that having the right kind of roro vessels can be a good business decision.
Let’s hope, with the right prodding by the Marina, that other ship owners will be bitten by their conscience to do what is right.
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Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at reydgamboa@yahoo.com. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.
