Mejia turns over the MARINA administration to Amaro

In a simple and quiet ceremony after the flag was hoisted this Monday morning at the third floor lobby of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) in Parkview Plaza, Dr Maximo Q. Mejia Jr hands over the blue MARINA flag, the agency’s symbol of authority, to new Administrator Dr. Marcial Quirico C. Amaro III.

Amaro, prior to joining the MARINA, was vice president for Chelsea Ship Management and Marine Services Corporation where he led and managed all the company’s vessel operations safely, economically, and efficiently maintained its operational requirements to standard, encompassing either the owner or charter parties and/or other commercial contracts, including those administrative in nature. He has served under various private shipping companies mostly as a consultant in his capacity as internal auditor, inspector and later on as accident investigator.

A seafarer himself, he graduated with a degree in BS Marine Transportation (BSMT) and majored in steam engineering and electricity at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) in 1982, Amaro served for both domestic and international vessels of different types. He worked his way from Fourth Engineer to Chief Engineer from 1982 to 1992. By the time he was managing operations for the Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. from 1992 to 1997, where he covered about 54 vessels and 800 Filipino crew, he was also project consultant for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) for a year starting 1995 and was involved in the computerization of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Board Examination for Marine Engine Officers under project name “National Marine Examination and Certification of Seafarers Philippines.” He developed questionnaires in multiple choice formats for all levels in the marine engineering licensure examination.

Amaro then moved to conduct valuation and condition surveys to different types of vessels and also conducted audits for ISM Code Certification (DOC and SMC) as a Surveyor/Assessor for the American Bureau Shipping-Marine Services, Inc. until year 2000. In the next three years, he was with Lloyd’s Register Quality Assurance as an Industry Expert/Coded Assessor and conducted audits for quality management systems for ISO 9001 and environment management systems for ISO 14001, particularly in the fields of adult learning or higher education, travel and tours, ship management, manning agencies, power generating plants and water transportation. By 2003, he became Consultant for the Petron Bataan Refinery where he conducted seminars on “Vessel Safety Inspection,” “Ship-to-Shore Safety Interface,” and other similar courses on safety to all personnel involved in oil movement and storage and marine termination operation at the refinery. Amaro was instrumental in the development of terminal safety manuals and guides to port entry. In 2005, he started the conduct of annual suitability and safety inspections to 48 chartered coastwise vessels using the Oil Companies International Marine Forum Ship Inspection Report (OCIMF-SIRE) Program when he became Consultant  for the Supply and Operations Division of Petron Corporation until 2007.

At the same time, in 2004 he was Lead Auditor for the Anglo-Japanese-American Registrar, Inc. until 2007, where he conducted similar audits particularly in the fields of liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generating plants, plastics and cartons manufacturing, information technology and electronics, manpower agencies development and training centers, and seaport facilities. For six years until 2013, Amaro was Marine Manager/Head of Vetting for Petron Corporation, responsible for maintaining maritime safety, security and protection of the environment by implementing national and international standards, rules and regulations on safety, security and environment protection that covered 60 ships and 24 terminals in the Philippines. During that time, he conducted annual vessel inspections and ship vetting to an average of 500 overseas/foreign vessels calling Petron marine depots and terminals. He conducted ISM/TMSA audits to vessel owners and operators and organized training seminars on depot management and ship-to-shore interface and assisted other Petron business units on maritime matters and ship business. Amaro was SIRE Category 1 Inspector from 2010 to 2013.

He was also actively involved with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), where he was responsible for the development of TESDA training regulations and assessment tools, and defended the same before the TESDA Board. He headed the National Inspection Team in monitoring 45 maritime schools and 20 assessment centers sanctioned by TESDA, in relation to their compliance with established training regulations. He was also a member of the Technical Expert Panel of TESDA for the National Capital Region and part of making sure that the TESDA quality system in all its activities were complied with.

He was independent ship inspector/auditor after his stint with Petron and conducted pre-SIRE audits, TMSA audits, SMS/ISPS/MLC internal audits to his clients. Working with clients, he was auditor, inspector and accident investigator, also with the Liberian International Ship and Corporate Registry and represented the company in providing maritime services to clients domestically and among nearby Asian countries in the issuance of documents pertaining to compliance with ISM, ISPS and MLC. He provided them support in terms of training and the conduct of investigations to marine casualties and incidents.

Amaro was also lecturer at the DNVGL Maritime Academy Philippines for courses: Internal Auditor ISM-ISPS-MLC for Shipping Companies; Internal Auditor ISM to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OSHAS 18001; Accident Investigation in Shipping; Maritime Risk Management; and Flag State Regulations. He co-authored two books used in BSME courses: (1) Maritime Thermodynamics 1; and (2) Mechanics and Hydromechanics.

He completed his coursework as Master in Shipping Business Management at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy in 2003. He is also a Commissioned Naval Officer, Reserved, with the rank of Captain at the Philippine Marine Corps. He went through airborne training, is a combat scuba diver, rainbow ranger and expert rifle shooter. He completed his Doctorate in Philosophy-Management in 2011 at the International Academy for Management and Economics in Makati City. He passed the UK National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health Certification in 2013. He is the first in the Philippines to receive DnV Certificate of Competence for Ship Superintendent in 2006 and was also the recipient of the Most Outstanding Seafarer of the Year Award in 2003. He is an accredited inspector/surveyor, accident investigator and lead auditor and certified lead auditor for ISO 9001, 14001, 22000, and OHSAS 18001.

 

Amaro was born in Iriga City on 23 August 1961 and is married to Evangeline Nucum Pare. They are blessed with three sons who are now in their 20s. He is a born-again Christian.