289

1 INTRODUCTION

Since the earliest times, the sea has always been

synonymous with insecurity for those who venture on

to it. He that would sail without danger must never

come on the main sea, as the proverb puts it. This

endemic absence of safety probably explains why

early maritime trade was mainly the preserve of

adventurers. The sea was associated with the idea of

chance or fate a concept still to be found in

expressions such as "maritime perils".

The history of navigation since ancient times

shows that the needs of safety came only gradually to

the fore, in the wake of accidents and disasters,

bringing about huge changes in the individual and

collective behaviour of those engaged in maritime

activities, who clung to ancient practices and habits.

Thousands of Mainers went to sea in the

nineteenth century. Some were fishermen, responsible

for handling their craft as well as bringing home a

good catch. Others sailed between Maine ports and

eastern cities carrying lumber, lime or granite. Still

others ventured further, taking lumber, and salt fish to

the West Indies and bringing back molasses and rum.

Mariners from Maine shipped in the Atlantic Ocean

trades, sailing on packets or other ships to England,

France, the Baltic, and the Mediterranean.

Shipping was a business, just as it is now, and

merchant vessels carried both goods and passengers.

Life on board ship lacked most of the amenities found

ashore or on vessels today. Seafaring could be

beautiful, but there were often cold storms or periods

of intense heat with no wind. A voyage from New

York to China in 1880 took at least a year and more

likely two. Before electronic links, communication

with home depended on ships exchanging letters in

ports around the world. Maine captains sometimes

took their families along on voyages. Although this

life had many hardships, it offered a chance to learn

about other cultures and to have many unique

A Study on the Safety at Sea for Boat Captains and

Motormen in Region VI: Modified Basic Safety Course

with Typhoon Awareness

.D. Dohina

, S.M. Picpican

, L.L. Robles

, V.Toledo

& A.S. Cordero

Iloilo State College of Fisheries, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo

Iloilo Science and Technology University, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo

ABSTRACT: Safety of crew, passengers, cargo and vessel is the most important aspect in terms of navigation.

Boat Captain’s is responsible for the safety of vessel of less than 35GRT. The primary reason while MARINA

conducting the MBSTC Training with Typhoon Awareness together with the ISCOF to be sure that they are

enough knowledge in terms of safety at sea. Life is a very important to all of us that’s why the boat Captain

must be aware about the safety of his crew, passengers, cargo and vessel. When disaster and emergency happen

onboard you must know what to do. Based on this premise, the objective of this study is to train the Boat

Captain and Motormen in Medical First Aid, Advanced Fire Fighting, Personal Survival Techniques and

Collision Regulations. The study employed qualitative research using purposive sampling to gather the

opinions and ideas of the respondents.

http://www.transnav.eu

the

International Journal

on Marine Navigation

and Safe

ty of Sea Transportation

Volume 16

Number 2

June 2022

DOI: 10.12716/1001.16.02.12

290

experiences. Joanna and Lincoln Colcord were two

children from Seasport who were born at sea and

spent much of their childhood aboard their father’s

vessels. Joanna later called her brother and herself

“children of the world.

2 MATERIALS AND METHOD

The study used qualitative research design. The

qualitative approach was chosen because it is believed

to be appropriate in achieving the objective of the

study (Strauss and Corbin, 2008). The study followed

an in depth interview approach followed by focus

group discussion. The authors conducted an in depth

interviews with 4 groups in every areas. The

interviews were conducted in accordance with the”

problem –centered interview. Open-ended questions

were asked allowing the narrators to give their

subjective view on their experiences in manuevering

the ship. Most of the questions were open ended in

consonance with the view that in depth response can

be solicited and an open flow of information was

gathered.

Focus group discussions were employed with the

use of both semi structured and open ended questions

primarily to allow the respondents to express

themselves openly. The respondents were explained

on the purpose of the study, why the study is

conducted with the assurance that their responses

were kept confidential.

3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS

The study aimed to know the safety of Boat Captain’s

and Motormen in Region V1. It also assessed the

experiences of the Boat Captain’s and Motormen in

manuevering and handling the ship in terms of bad

weather. The response for each question and its

findings are presented in the succeeding table.

3.1 Research question 1:What are the types of boat’s

maneuvered by the boat captain’s?

Table 1.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Respondents %

_______________________________________________

Passenger 35 48%

Island Hopping 18 25%

Fishing 11 15%

Paraseal 9 12%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 2.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Province 75 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Passenger 45 60%

Island Hopping 10 13%

Fishing 20 27%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 3.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia 63 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Passenger 20 32%

Island Hopping 3 5%

Fishing 40 63%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 4.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Passenger 6 26%

Fishing 17 74%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.2 Research question 2: What are the most common types

of accidents/incidents met onboard?

Table 5.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Engine Trouble 25 34%

Submerge 10 14%

Capsize 10 14%

Damage 28 38%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 6.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Island 75 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Engine Trouble 30 40%

Submerge 12 16%

Capsize 8 11%

Damage 25 33%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 7.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia 63 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Engine Trouble 20 31%

Submerge 10 16%

Capsize 8 13%

Damage 25 40%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 8.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Engine Trouble 8 35%

Submerge 3 13%

Capsize 2 9%

Damage 10 43%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.3 Research question 3: How did boat captains learn to

operate boats?

Table 9.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Participants %

_______________________________________________

From observation and experience 35 48%

From captain 25 34%

From Parents 13 18%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 10.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Island 75 participants %

_______________________________________________

From observation and experince 30 40%

From Captain 20 40%

From Parents 15 20%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

291

Table 11.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia 63 Participants %

_______________________________________________

From observation and experince 25 40%

From Captain 23 36%

From Parents 15 24%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 12.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 participants %

_______________________________________________

From Observation and Experience 11 49%

From Captain 9 38%

From Parents 3 13%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.4 Research question 4: Does boat inspection for safety

operation is conducted? If Yes, Who conducted the

inspection?

Table 13.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 30 41%

Philippine Coastguard 30 41%

BFAR 13 18%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 14.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Province 75 Participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 25 33%

Philippine Coastguard 30 40%

BFAR 18 24%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 15.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia 63 participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 30 48%

Philippine Coastguard 20 32%

BFAR 13 20%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 16.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 12 52%

Philippine Coastguard 8 35%

BFAR 3 13%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.5 Research question 5: How do boat captains

know/determine if the weather conditions is safe and

unsafe for boat operation?

Table 17.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Weather Forecast 30 41%

Philippine Coastguard 25 34%

Owners of the boat 18 25%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 18.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Province 75 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Weather Forecast 35 47%

Philippine Coastguard 25 33%

Owners 15 20%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 19.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia Participants %

_______________________________________________

Weather Forecast 25 40%

Philippine Coastguard 20 32%

Owners 18 28%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 20.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 participants %

_______________________________________________

Weather Forecast 8 35%

Philippine Coastguard 8 35%

Owners 7 30%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.6 Research question 6: What is the label of aware of the

policies and regulations on safety of life at sea

implemented by the identified government agencies?

What are the types of equipment/personal protective

equipment is available onboard?

Table 21.

_______________________________________________

Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 35 48%

Philippine Coastguard 25 34%

BFAR 13 18%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 22.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Province 75 participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 35 47%

Philippine Coastguard 27 36%

BFAR 13 17%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 23.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia 63 participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 30 48%

Philippine Coastguard 23 36%

BFAR 10 16%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 24.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 Participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 9 39%

Philippine Coastguard 9 39%

BFAR 5 22%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.7 Research question 7: What are the types of equipment/

personal protective equipment is available onboard?

Table 25.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Lifejacket 15 21%

Compass 18 25%

GPS 5 7%

Fire Extinguisher 8 11%

VHF 6 8%

Signaling Device (flashlight) 8 11%

Anchor 13 17%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

292

Table 26.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Province 75 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Lifejacket 15 20%

Compass 15 20%

GPS 7 9%

Fire Extinguisher 10 13%

VHF 5 7%

Signaling Device (flashlight) 8 11%

Anchor 15 20%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 27.

_______________________________________________

Estancia 63 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Lifejacket 13 21%

Compass 15 24%

GPS 5 8%

Fire Extinguisher 10 16%

VHF 5 8%

Signaling Device (flashlight) 5 8%

Anchor 10 15%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 28.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 Participants %

_______________________________________________

Lifejacket 5 22%

Compass 5 22%

GPS 1 4%

Fire Extinguisher 3 13%

VHF 1 4%

Signaling Device (flashlight) 3 13%

Anchor 5 22%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.8 Research question 8: Who are the primary MBSTC

training providers?

Table 29.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 30 41%

ISCOF 20 27%

JBLFMU 15 21%

VMA 8 11%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 30.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Province 75 Participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 35 47%

ISCOF 30 40%

JBLFMU 7 9%

VMA 3 4%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 31.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia 63 Participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 30 48%

ISCOF 20 32%

JBLFMU 10 16%

VMA 3 4%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 32.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 Participants %

_______________________________________________

MARINA 9 39%

ISCOF 9 39%

JBLFMU 3 13%

VMA 2 9%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

3.9 Research question 9: What are the personal benefits

provided/given for boat Captain’s and Motormen?

Table 33.

_______________________________________________

Area Boracay Island Malay, Aklan 73 Participants %

_______________________________________________

SSS 40 55%

PHILHEALTH 23 32%

INSURANCE 10 13%

Total 73 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 34.

_______________________________________________

Area Guimaras Province 75 Participants %

_______________________________________________

SSS 40 53%

PHILHEALTH 25 33%

INSURANCE 11 14%

Total 75 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 35.

_______________________________________________

Area Estancia 63 Participants %

_______________________________________________

SSS 25 40%

PHILHEALTH 25 40%

INSURANCE 13 20%

Total 63 100%

_______________________________________________

Table 36.

_______________________________________________

Area Roxas City Capiz 23 Participants %

_______________________________________________

SSS 11 48%

PHILHEALTH 10 43%

INSURANCE 2 9%

Total 23 100%

_______________________________________________

4 CONCLUSION

1. The type of boats most operated in the 4 areas in

Region V1 are the Passenger next is fishing vessel

and to be followed by the Island Hopping and

Paraseal.

2. The most common types of accident/incidents

happen onboard in different areas in Port of

Region V1 is Engine Trouble next submerge,

damage and capsize.

3. Most participant learned how to operate boats by

their own experience and observation and from the

Captain and to their parents who teach them.

4. Marina and Coastguard was conducted an

inspection to every vessel operated in the 4 areas in

Ports of Region V1.

5. By listening to the weather forecast and the advice

of the Philippine Coastguard and also the owner of

the boats the captain can decide if it is safe to

operate.

6. Some Boat Captains and Motormen are aware on

the policy and regulations that the MARINA,

BFAR and Coastguard was implemented and some

of them also is not aware.

293

7. Some boats are equipped with safety equipment

and personal protective equipment while other

boats is only 2 to 3 safety equipment they have

onboard.

8. The MARINA AND ISCOF is the primary provider

of MBSTC Training for Boat Captain’s and

Motormen in Iloilo City and they are interested on

this training it is an additional to their knowledge

about their safety at sea.

9. Some Boat Captain’s and Motormen had a benefits

in their company while other doesn’t.

5 RECOMMENDATIONS

The result of the research study the following

recommendations were drawn:

1. The Philippine Coastguard will be trick to

implement the policy and regulations that the

MARINA and BFAR required to the Boats of less

than 35GRT.

2. The Boat Owners must comply the safety

equipment and personal protection equipment

onboard to protect the safety of crew, passengers,

cargo and boat.

3. All boat owners must giveall benefits to their crew

onboard for their safety and must secured in the

company.

REFERENCES

http://apjeas.apjmr.com/wp-

content/uploads/2016/08/APJEAS-

2016.3.2.11.pdfModified Basic Safety Training with

Typhoon. Awareness as a Response toDisaster.

Preparedness.

Asia Pacific Journal of Education, Arts and Sciences, Vol. 3

No. 2, April 2016 83 P-ISSN 2362-8022 | E-ISSN 2362-

8030 | www.apjeas.apjmr.com

http://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/ReferencesAndA

rchives/HistoryofSafetyatSea/Documents/P.%20Boisson -

The History of Safety at Sea T – International Maritime

Organization

http://penobscotmarinemuseum.org/pbho-1/life-at-sea/life-

sea-introduction - Life at Sea: Introduction - Penobscot

Marine Museum