Vessel owner scores Coast Guard for defying own rules

A vessel owner has accused the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) of ignoring its own rules and regulations and of succumbing to the influence of a tanker group by refusing to issue a certificate of inspection (CI) despite the approval of the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina).

Pheschem Industrial Corp. (Pheschem) president Tomas Tan, who is also the owner of the MV Golden Swan, said the seven-man technical team convened by Marina had declared his vessel safe to carry liquefied ammonia in bulk in its pressurized bullet tanks as well as other general cargo.

Marina Memorandum Circular No. 139 also deputized the PCG to issue a certificate of inspection, but the agency has not done that so far, Tan lamented.

At the same time, Tan accused the PCG of succumbing to the pressure exerted by the Philippine Petroleum Sea Transport Association (Philpesta) which he said is against his ship’s release.

Tan said Philpesta is even claiming that his ship is a "floating bomb" and it should not carry hazardous cargoes because it is basically a landing craft transport (LCT) that was converted to carry liquefied ammonia.

Tan argued, however, that the Golden Swan was officially approved by Marina Administrator Oscar Sevilla and Deputy Administrator Lamberto Pia, with the agency even applying the International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code, the first time it was used on a domestic ship. Tan added the Marina board even passed a resolution on April 29, 2003 tasking the PCG to issue a CI to Golden Swan.

"An application for the issuance of a vessel’s certificate of inspection is not an adversarial proceeding. There is no such thing as an oppositor for such an application. Why then is the PCG allowing Philpesta to oppose?" Tan asked.

To obtain a CI, all that a shipowner needs to do is file an application and submit the requirements. In fact, the PCG had already conducted an inspection and had issued a favorable recommendation to make this issuance, which is just a renewal of the one that expired, Tan explained.

Tan is appealing to Marina and the PCG to perform their duties in accordance with existing maritime rules and regulations.