Philippines orders registration of private recreational boats

The Philippines Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is tightening it policies on maritime tourism with new rules on registering, licensing and operating recreational boats for commercial or private use within its territorial waters.

Filipino citizens and domestic partnerships, associations, or corporations can register recreational boats for commercial or private use. However, recreational boats registered under a foreign national or foreign-owned domestic company or corporation shall only be used privately, according to the Manila Bulletin.

Recreational boats as defined by the agency include vessels of 150ft or less used exclusively for recreational or tourism development purposes either commercially or privately.

MARINA will grant a Certificate of Ownership and a Recreational Boat Certificate up completion of the registration process. The certificate will be good for five years.

Additionally, MARINA will maintain a Registry of Recreational Boat to record essential information including the name of the recreational boats, its homeports and official numbers, the name of the builders with the place and year built, as well as vessel specifications.