How do you register a foreign ship

under the Philippine flag that will be

permanently utilized in international
waters?

The company must be registered/accredited f irst
with MARINA Circular No. 181.

Documentary requirements for Accreditation under MC No. 181:

1. Letter of application

2. List of principal officers supported by Curriculum Vitae with

photograph indicating their shipping experience. Principal
Officers must have at least 5 years of experience in shipping

3. Copy of Certificate of Registration with the Securities

and Exchange Commission and Articles of Incorporation

4. The required paid-up Capitalization of the companies

with owned ships is Php 7,000,000.00, without limit to
the number of ships to be chartered

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After approval of the accreditation, the company must
comply with the following:

A. Pre-approval documents to be submitted

(M.C. No. 182, as amended)

1. Original copy of the Certificate of Deletion or Suspension

of the original registry or consent to the bareboat charter
registration in the Philippines by the State of original registry

2. A copy of the signed Bareboat Charter Contract (with

printed names below the signatures) duly notarized in the
State where it was executed and authenticated by the
Philippine Embassy/Consulate concerned

3. A copy of the Power of Attorney/Board Resolution

authorizing the signatory to the bareboat charter party to
act as such on behalf of the registered owner, duly
notarized in the State where it was executed and
authenticated by the Philippine Embassy/Consulate
concerned

4. A copy of the ship’s subsisting Certificate of Original

Registry (Patente), as duly certified to be a true copy of
the original by the State of original registry or by the
Philippine Embassy/Consulate concerned

5. Builder’s Certificate (for newly built ship)

6. For bareboat subcharter:

- Consent from the registered owner

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 B. Letter authorization to a classification society for the
issuance of the following statutory certificates
(M.C. No. 2018-01):

1. International Tonnage Certificate
2. International Load Line Certificate
3. International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate
4. International Ship Security Certificate
5. Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate
6. Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate
7. Document of Compliance
8. Safety Management Certificate
9. Other required trading Safety Certificates

C. Minimum Safe Manning Certificate (MSMC) – based

on M.C. No. 2018-03

D. Certificate of Philippine Registry (CPR) – filing fee is

based on the Gross Tonnage and charter period
(M.C. No. 2015-05)

E. Certification that the application is being processed

in MARINA for purposes of securing call sign from
the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC)
or processing of crew contracts with POEA

F. Documentary stamp tax on charter contract based on

ship’s Gross Tonnage and charter period

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G. Application for the issuance of Continuous
Synopsis Record (after the issuance of CPR)

H. Separate application for the Approval of Vessel

Plans – to be filed with the Shipyards Regulation
Service (SRS) before the issuance of full term CPR and
MSMC

I. Issuance of Full Term CPR and MSMC – the applicant

shall be required to submit the following:

• Approval of Ship’s Plan

• Protocol of Delivery and Acceptance

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What are the requirements for a domestic

ship to be temporarily used in international

waters (M.C. No. 2013 - 04)?

1. Letter of application signed by the

officer of the company or its authorized
representative
2. Crew list indicating the names of the crew,
their respective ranks/positions and the STCW
Certificate/Certificate of Competency

C. Ship documents, as applicable:

1. Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate
2. Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate
3. Cargo Ship Safety Certificate
4. International Tonnage Certificate/
Admeasurement
5. Document of Compliance
6. Safety Management Certificate
7. Certificate of Public Convenience
8. Continuous Synopsis Record (500gt and above)
9. Long Range Identification and Tracking of Ships
(300gt and above)
10. Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
(issued by the NTC)
11. Ship Station License (issued by NTC)
12. Civil Liability Convention Certificate
(greater than 1,000gt)
13. Certificate of Insurance or Other Financial Security
in respect of CLC for Bunker Oil Pollution
Damages, 2001 (1,000gt – other than tanker)

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 14. International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate
15. International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate
16. International Load Line Certificate
17. International Ship Security Certificate (500gt and above)
18. Certificate of Fitness (gas carriers only)
19. Cargo Securing Manual (stamped by the Maritime Safety
Service)
20. Passenger Insurance (for passenger ships)
21. Passenger Ship Safety Certificate
22. Exemption Certificate (issued by the Maritime Safety
Service)
23. International Energy Efficiency Certificate
24. International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate
25. International Ballast Water Management Certificate
26. International Anti-Fouling System Certificate
27. Certificate of Class (full term)
28. For conduction purposes abroad, safety
certificates depending on type and size of ship:

- Waiver from the SRS (ships that will be dry

docked/repaired abroad)

Photo courtesy of FleetMon P7

 What are the requirements for the novation/renewal/
extension of temporary Philippine registration under
Bareboat Charter (M.C. No. 182, as amended)?
1. Letter of Application signed by the officer of the company or its
authorized representative
2. Bareboat Charter Contract duly signed (with printed names of
the signatories)
3. Consent to the bareboat charter registration in the Philippines by
the State of original registry or copy of a Certificate of Deletion or
Suspension
4. Power of Attorney or Board Resolution authorizing the signatory
to the bareboat charter party to act as such on behalf of the registered
owners
5. Copy of the Valid Certificate of Vessel Registry (Patente)
6. For New Buildings: Builder’s Certificate
7. For Sub-charter:
- Consent from the registered owner
(For bareboat sub-charter only)
- Addendum to the Charter Contract
(For extension/renewal only)

What are the requirements to delete a ship from the

Philippine Registry (M.C. 90, as amended and
M.C. No. 182, as amended)?

A. For Bareboat Chartered Ships:

1. Letter of Application signed by the officer of the

company or its authorized representative
2. Consent from the registered owner

B. For Owned Ships:

1. Letter of Application signed by the officer of

the company or its authorized representative

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Are foreign officers/crew allowed onboard
Philippine-registered ships plying the
international trade (M.C. No. 182, as amended)?
No, however the Philippines allows foreign officer/crew
onboard the Philippine flag ships as supernumerary for
a specific purpose other than to perform navigation,
operation and management functions. It may be
allowed only for a maximum period of six (6) months.

What are the requirements in order to be

accredited as Recognized Organization (RO) that
will perform certification and services for the
Philippine-registered ships (M.C. No. 2018 - 01)?

The applicant/company shall submit the following documents in

support of the application:

1. Letter of intent/application
2. Copy of company registration/Articles of Incorporation and By-
Laws issued/ Memorandum and Articles of Partnership issued by
the Securities and Exchange Commission
3. Copy of Quality Assurance Certification issued by a certifying body
acceptable to the Administration
4. Directory of Officers, Auditors, Surveyors, or Officials of
the RO showing their competence and qualifications
5. Copy of the Code of Ethics and Ethical Standards by which the
ROs’ ethical behavior is governed with respect to assurance of
adequate performance on services, confidentiality of information
and independence between the personnel providing consultancy
services and those involved in the statutory certification and
services
6. Track record or general information that will show the past
achievements or performance of a RO relating to statutory
certification and services from other Flag States

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 What are the things to be done when a
Philippine-registered ship is detained by Port State
Control officers in a foreign port?

The company must inform the Flag Administration and request the
Class of the ship to rectify the reported deficiencies.

What is the MARINA Overseas Shipping Service

Information and Monitoring System?

The MARINA Overseas Shipping Service Information and Monitoring

System or OSSIMS for short is an online application that aims to intensify
the Agency’s campaign in eliminating bureaucratic red tape, avert graft
and corrupt practices. It also promotes transparency and sustains ease
of doing business.

How is the MARINA Overseas Shipping Service

Information and Monitoring System being adopted?

a.) Go to https://ossims.marina.gov.ph.

b.) For existing companies, select the ACCREDITATION

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OF SHIPPING COMPANIES and enter the Company’s Taxpayer
Identification Number (TIN), then click the verify button. Click OK.

i. For New Companies, Click the Register link

in Step 1, then you will be redirected to the
registration page:
(https://ossims.marina.gov.ph/registration.php).
Fill-up all the necessary information needed.
Proceed to Step 4.

ii. For Special Permits, Click the Special Permit

Register link in Step 1, then you will be redirected
to Special Permit Registration page:
(https://ossims.marina.gov.ph/SpecialPermit_
Registration.php).
Fill-up all the necessary information needed.
Proceed to Step 4.

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 c.) After verification in Step 2, you will be redirected to
the Create Email address and Password page. Enter the
company’s email address and password (the password
should be alphanumeric and minimum of 8 characters),
then click submit button. Confirmation window will appear
that you have successfully submitted your email.

d.) Check your email for the Email Confirmation from OSSIMS.
Then click Activate Account.

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e.) After you click the Activate Account link in Step 4,
confirmation window will appear, then click OK and proceed
to LOG IN page.

f.) LOG IN the company’s email address and password.

g.) After successful log in, you will be redirected to the Company’s
Profile page.

h.) Click the Application tab, then select TYPE OF APPLICATION.

The set of requirements of that application will be listed.

i.) Click the Choose File button then select the file that you will
upload. Click the Upload button. Only PDF files with less than 2MB size
per document can be uploaded. After all the requirements are
uploaded, click the APPLY button.

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 j.) Check for status. If all documents are complete, proceed to the
Overseas Shipping Service (OSS) for final evaluation and issuance of
Authority to Accept Payment (ATAP). The application will not be
accepted if the documents are incomplete or not acceptable upon
verification. Notice of deficiency will appear in the Remarks portion
along with why the application is incomplete.

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k.) The Overseas Shipping Service has the option to cancel the
application if the submitted documents are not completed
within two (2) months from activation of the account.

l.) Upon payment of the applicable fees, the application will

be accepted for final evaluation and issuance of the
appropriate approval and/or certificates.

m.) The submission of documents as post approval conditions

shall apply.

n.) The provisions of Republic Act (R.A.) 10173, otherwise

known as the Data Privacy Act on protection of
confidentiality, preserve the integrity and promote the
availability of data for authorized use shall apply.

REFERENCES:
• Maritime Industry Authority – Overseas Shipping
Service

• MARINA Advisory No. 2019 – 02: MARINA Overseas

Shipping Service Information and Monitoring System

• Checklist of Documentary Requirements:

Special Permit for Temporary Utilization of
Domestic Ships in Overseas
Trade/Operation (M.C. 2013 - 04)

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 Maritime Industry Authority
Maritime Industry
Overseas AuthorityService
Shipping
OVERSEAS SHIPPING
8th Floor, MARINA SERVICE
Building
8th Floor, MARINA
A. Bonifacio Building
Avenue corner 20th Street
A. Bonifacio AvenuePort
South Harbor, corner 20th
Area, Street
Manila
SouthEmail:
Harbor, Port Area, Manila
oss@marina.gov.ph
Email Address: oss@marina.gov.ph