Section 10Sec./Art. 10

Jurisdiction; Power; and Duties of MARINA. - The MARINA shall have the power and authority to:

(1) Register vessels;

(2) Issue certificates of public convenience or any extensions or amendments thereto, authorizing the operation of all kinds. Classes and types of vessels in domestic shipping: Provided, That no such certificate shall be valid for a period of more than twenty-five (25) years;

(3) Modify, suspend or revoke at any time upon notice and hearing, any certificate, license or accreditation it may have issued to any domestic ship operator;

(4) Establish and prescribe routes, zones or areas of operations of domestic ship operators;

(5) Require any domestic ship operator to provide shipping services to any coastal area, island or region in the country where such services are necessary for the development of the area, to meet emergency sealift requirements, or when public interest so requires;

(6) Set safety standards for vessels in accordance with applicable conventions and regulations;

(7) Require all domestic ship operators to comply with operational and safety standards for vessels set by applicable conventions and regulations, maintain its vessels in safe and serviceable conditions, meet the standards of safety of life at sea and safe manning requirements, and furnish safe, adequate, efficient, reliable and proper service at all times;

(8) Inspect all vessels to ensure and enforce compliance with safety standards and other regulations;

(9) Ensure that all domestic ship operators shall have the financial capacity to provide and sustain safe, reliable, efficient and economic passenger or cargo service, or both;

(10) Determine the impact which any new service shall have to the locality it will serve;

(11) Adopt and enforce such rules and regulations which will ensure compliance by every domestic ship operator with required safety standards and other rules and regulations on vessel safety;

(12) Adopt such rules and regulations which ensure the reasonable stability of passengers and freight rates and, if necessary, to intervene in order to protect public interest;

(13) Hear and adjudicate any complaint made in writing involving any violation of this law or the rules and regulations of the Authority;

(14) Impose such fines and penalties on, including the revocations of licenses of any domestic ship operator who shall fail to maintain its vessels in safe and serviceable condition, or who shall violate or fail to comply with safety regulations;

(15) Investigate any complaint made in writing against any domestic ship operator, or any shipper, or any group of shippers regarding any matter involving violations of the provisions of this Act;

(16) Upon notice and hearing, impose such fines, suspend or revoke certificates of public convenience or other license issued, or otherwise penalize any ship operator, shipper or group of shippers found violating the provisions of this Act; and

(17) Issue such rules and regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this Act: Provided, That such rules and regulations cannot change or in any way amend or be contrary to the intent and purposes of this Act.

CHAPTER IV

RATES