Luzon-Visayas Maritime Travel Policy

A. Introduction

1. United Nations Security Management System (UNSMS) personnel in the

Philippines serve in some of the most challenging and remote areas of the country.

2. The Philippines is an archipelagic country and there are operational areas

where only through maritime transport is often the most practical mode of transport for
reaching them.

3. The United Nations system mandates greater coordination and proper

management to promote the harmonization of maritime travel which includes
consideration of all safety factors.

B. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide a framework that will govern UNSMS
travel using maritime assets with a view to:

1. Enhance efficiency and effectiveness of maritime travel management

among UNSMS organizations

2. Determine responsibility and accountability for managers who approve

travel, taking into account the safety and security of travellers

3. Harmonize coordination and cooperation among the UNSMS

organizations.

C. Scope

This policy addresses the considerations of maritime planning and issues of

security and safety factors in the use of commercial maritime assets and donated
maritime trips in the execution and implementation of UN operations, plans and
programs in areas where maritime or waterborne travel is the most convenient way of
reaching these areas. The policy does not cover UN Chartered Maritime Vessel.

D. Applicability

The policy is applicable to all UNSMS entities and all individuals in the pursuit of
agency mission related tasks in remote and challenging areas.

E. Definitions

1. Maritime or waterborne transport is the transport of people or goods

via waterways, either by seas and inland waters.
 2. Maritime Security refers to human and material resources used to
safeguard maritime travel against unlawful interference. These include techniques and
methods to protect maritime vessels, passengers, employees, equipment and from
accidental/malicious harm, crime and other threats.

3. Maritime Safety – It is the reliability of a maritime vessel to function

without safety-related incident (non-deliberate event).

4. Commercial Maritime Operator – An operator, with a valid maritime

operator certificate issued by government regulators which, for remuneration or hire,
provides scheduled or non-scheduled maritime transport services to the public for the
carriage of goods and passengers.

5. UN Chartered Maritime Vessel – Maritime transport procured under

contractual arrangement between a maritime operator and a UN organization for the
sole purpose of providing short-term or long-term services to support UN-mandated
activities.

6. Donated Maritime Voyage – maritime travel provided without charge to

UNSMS entities for official travel. Such voyage may be operated by a commercial
maritime operator, by a private non-commercial operator or by a government or military
entity.

7. Coastal trading and ferry vessels, also known as coasters, ships used

for trade and ferries between island locations. They are often small and of shallow  draft,
and sometimes set up as self-dischargers

8. Ferry - is a merchant vessel used to carry passengers, and sometimes

vehicles and cargo, across a body of water.

9. Roll-on/roll-off ships (RORO) - are cargo ships designed to carry

wheeled cargo such as automobiles, trailers or railway carriages. In the Philippines,
RORO vessels also function as passenger vessels at the same time.

10. Outrigger boats- are various watercrafts featuring one or more lateral

support floats known as outriggers or floaters fastened to one or both sides of the main
hull. In some areas of the country, double outrigger boats function as passenger boats
especially for small inter-island voyages where coastal trading, RORO vessels and ferry
vessels are not suitable.

F. Maritime Safety Information, Analysis and Assessment

Provision of maritime safety information and analysis of commercial maritime

operators and commercially operated donated voyages is as follows:

1. The UNDSS collects, collates and analyses relevant maritime information

from industry sources.
 2. UNDSS establishes a list of commercial maritime and private operators
that are recommended for mission related travel of UNSMS personnel.

3. The Security Adviser communicates the list of recommended commercial

maritime operators to the Designated Officials, Heads of AFP and agency security focal
points.

4. The focal point in each UNSMS entity, shares the list internally with
agency decision-makers

5. Taking account of the information and analysis provided by UNDSS,

decision-making for the use of a commercial maritime assets or donated maritime travel
is made by each UNSMS entity.

6. For circumstances where no recommended commercial maritime operator

exists, UNSMS entities should consider whether to avail of a maritime operator that is
not on the recommended list. Heads of UN AFP shall initiate prior request to UNDSS for
the possible conduct of expanded technical review and analysis and the feasibility of an
on-the-ground assessment.

G. Policy

1. Maritime travel shall only be resorted to if air travel and land travel is not
feasible and available in going to the operational area.

2. Each UNSMS entity shall establishes its own internal mechanisms to

determine whether to use a maritime assets for official travel of their personnel;

3. Approval of donated trips/voyage including the use of government assets

is at the discretion of the heads UN AFP.

4. Use of military maritime assets can increased risks to UNSMS personnel

in conflict areas. Conduct of risk assessment in specific security environment is
mandatory before military assets are availed. Use of military in areas where there is no
conflict is not an issue as far as security is concern.

5. Maritime travel is only resorted to after proper SRM to determine the level
of risk and determine measures to prevent/mitigate the risk has been conducted.

6. The heads of UN AFPs should conduct periodic assessment and update

their own maritime travel policies and identify measures to promote efficiency and
integration in their systems.

7. The UNDSS serves as a central repository of maritime vessels safety

information. It shall establish and maintain a database of maritime safety information in
the Philippines; provides aviation safety information and advice regarding maritime
vessel operators to UNSMS entities; and collects, analyses and provides information on
commercially operated donated voyages.

8. Inter-island maritime travel is limited to ocean liners, ferries and coastal

trading vessels. Maritime travel using outrigger boats is prohibited.

9. Maritime travel planning considerations

a. All marine movement is to be undertaken between 0600 and 1800

hours (daylight hours).

b. Security clearance/TRIP is to be approved before a mission can

be undertaken.

c. Adequate provisions for life-saving SOLAS* [Safety of Life at Sea]

lifejacket for each passenger and crew. SOLAS must be worn at the onset of travel.

d. Abort mission. Mission is to be discontinued when one of the

following concerns exists:

1) Seaworthiness of the vessel is uncertain.

2) Bad weather conditions.
3) Overloading of passengers/cargo.
4) Concerns of crew behaviour or competence.
5) Security concerns