CREW oF BIHA nOW NEED SOLAS TRAINING aND SEAMAN'S BOOK

The standard and requirements to become a crew member of boats in Boracay especially on Island Hopping, have been raised.

Aspirants are now to undergo Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and they would need to have a Seaman’s book before they are allowed to be a Capt. or crew member of a boat.

This was learned from Town Council Member Jupiter Gallenero at the Joint Committee Hearing on Wednesday, October 17.

Gallenero admitted that most of the current crew members were not really trained on what to do in times of emergency.

This is why 70 crew members of Boracay Island Hopping Association (BIHA) will undergo training at Iloilo City, according to Rey Fernando, BIHA Operation Manager.

The training was requested by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) from BIHA for the safety of tourists whom they usually serve.

However, although 70 will undergo training on Friday, Fernando clarified that their operation will not be affected since they will still have crew members to render service. He added that only those who did not have license were sent for the training.

Nevertheless, as a reaction to the matter, Vice Mayor Ceciron Cawaling expressed that the 3 day basic training for crew members is allegedly not sufficient to ensure the safety of boat passengers. He added that there should be actual and long training.

It can be recalled that this year, there have been disasters involving Island Hopping which took the lives of tourists and a Capt. of a boat.