The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) reminded vessel owners on Friday, May 26, to implement safety measures as super typhoon "Mawar" (international name) further intensified while inching closer the country.
(Courtesy of Maritime Industry Authority)
The MARINA office in the National Capital Region (NCR) issued a directive urging ship and boat owners, designated persons, and concerned entities to comply with a 2019 policy that stresses the importance of adherence to the Code of Safety Stowage and Securing in Domestic Shipping.
The code states that all cargoes should be stowed and secured in such a way that the ship and persons on board are not put at risk.
"The directive aims to ensure that all necessary precautions are taken and that vessels are suitably prepared for the approaching super typhoon," said Marina NCR Regional Director Marc Anthony Pascua.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that Mawar is projected to rapidly strengthen within the next 24 to 36 hours.
It is forecasted to enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) on Friday night or Saturday morning, May 27, and will be given the local name typhoon "Betty".
The center of the eye of Mawar was last seen 1,705 km east of Southeastern Luzon. It was packing maximum winds of 215 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 260 kph while moving west northwestward at 20 kph.
PAGASA said the typhoon could reach its maximum intensity at 220 kph.
As such, the MARINA-NCR mandated the activation of emergency procedures in alignment with the safety management system (SMS) under the International Safety Management (ISM) Code
The ISM Code is the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) standard for the safe management and operation of ships at sea.
Further, the advisory emphasized the strict compliance of vessel owners to safety standards, procedures, and the Planned Maintenance System (PMS) under each company's SMS, the Marina-NCR stated.