This paper investigates minimum safe distances relative to a ship’s four cardinal sides, as perceived by Filipino navigators when encountering dangerous elements and in adverse weather conditions when maneuvering in and around harbors. It uses a descriptive research method in the form of a questionnaire survey for experienced Filipino navigators of various ranks. During the course of research, 71 responses were colleted and the resulting data is presented in graphical and tabulated forms. Statistical methods including Pearson-product moment correlations, Cronbach’s Alpha and ANOVA were used to identify internal associations, consistencies and significances, respectively. It has been proven that there are no significant differences in minimum safe distances relative to a ship’s four cardinal sides, whether maneuvering while approaching a port or within an inner harbor. This study has been deemed significant for training future navigators, managing traffic in fairways, and designing harbors and maneuvering areas in the approaches to ports, among other applications. This work can also be used as a preliminary study for comparison with the well known safe domains presently in use.

Part 2 of the Questionnaire Survey on Marine Safety and VTS in the Philippine Coastal Waters presents the alternatives to risk reduction, modifying the VTS, the qualification and competency of a VTS operator and effectiveness of the services and assistance rendered by VTS. This study finds that majority of respondents chose "Improved education and training of mariners" as the best alternative to risk reduction and the "Strict enforcement of ship safety regulations" as the best alternative based on the respondents' ranks last served onboard and areas of familiarity. In modifying the VTS, the areas with VTS chose to "Improve or upgrade" and for those without, is to "Implement" the system. The best VTS system is the "Port and Approaches" type and the PCG is selected to operate, maintain and supervise the system. As a VTS operator, the necessity of shipboard experience is considered "Essential" and the experiences include "Ship-handling and Communication", and "Management level" experiences. The effectiveness of the assistance and services rendered by VTS are considered "Very Important". Based on these findings, this study recommends improvement of education and training of mariners and users of the waterways including the training of VTS operators manning the VTS centers, strict enforcement of ship safety regulations along the busy and main ports of the country and installation of VTS system with the most appropriate type with the supervision of PCG.

The fairway within the area of Yul-do and Songdo located near the Myeongnyang-sudo approaches south of Mokpo harbor is well guided by Traffic Separation Scheme and other navigational aids. However, that part of the waterways where Yul-do is located sits at the cross-roads of marine traffic. Furthermore, the area is subjected to some potential risks in the navigation: the effect of climatic phenomenon, the disregard of most ships in using the western sector of the fairway creating a congestion in the eastern sector, and lastly, the disadvantageous effect of the location and height of Yul-do island that hinders good lookout. This is the object of this study and it aims to propose an improvement on the use of the traffic lanes to make it safe and an efficient guide to the navigation in the waterways. This study shall investigate the environmental conditions that prevailed in the area in the span of 5-year period and marine traffic situation taken from the data within the 72-hour period. The navigational hazards and marine casualties shall also be presented. The results shall be analyzed and will be the basis of a proposal for an improved separation of traffic. Thereafter, an evaluation shall be carried out by using the components of marine traffic flow simulation and ES modeling index. It shall be evaluated through simulation by the use of Full-Mission Ship Handling simulator.

This paper details the maritime accidents that occurred in the Philippines from 1972 to 2010. Firstly, it describes the general maritime situation in the country. It was followed by the traffic and safety infrastructure and the prevailing weather in the archipelago. The third section deals with the accidents' statistics and their geographical locations which is further sub-divided into three regions. It is grouped according to 10-year period. This paper describes the actual maritime situations, the pertinent national regulations, the inter-agencies policies and their safety regimes. It illustrates the shipping environment in the country including the maritime aids and infrastructure and the on human element factors.