PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Feb. 18 (PNA) — The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in this city has distributed over a hundred seaman’s books to boat captains of tourist motor bancas at the Puerto Princesa Underground River (PPUR) and Honda Bay Islands, where they may record their careers and experiences.
Engineer Nelson Sobrepena, chief of the MARINA in Puerto Princesa, said Tuesday that representatives from their head office in Manila arrived here early in the week to distribute the seaman’s books and to give examination to residents, who want to have it since their livelihood depends on operating motorized boats and bancas for tourists.
The seaman’s book is important, he said, as it serves also as “their license” to manage and operate boats to bring tourists to the subterranean river at Sitio Sabang, Barangay Cabayugan, and island destinations in Honda Bay, Barangay Sta. Lourdes.
Sobrepena added it provides a simple and portable method for boat captains to record their sea time, and gives legal identity whenever they are on other vessels for various legal purposes.
He added that the MARINA also provided various seminars on safety to groups of boat captains on how to be safe at sea, and what must they do or not do whenever they are servicing tourists from island-to-island in Honda Bay, and at the PPUR.
Only licensed boat captains, he added, can be relied upon for safe travels at sea since they underwent training-workshops. Those who do not have are advised to visit the MARINA office in Puerto Princesa on how to obtain their seaman’s books. (PNA)