Davao Gulf no longer risky, encouraging idle vessels to park in the area

The Davao Gulf has been removed from a list of areas with perceived enhanced risks, making it more attractive to shipping companies – both local and foreign – to park their vessels in the area. The decision was announced on September 14 by a group of London-based marine insurance companies called the Joint War Committee (JWC). Composed of the Lloyd’s of London and the London-based International Underwriters Association, the group issues insurance for vessels, especially those plying dangerous areas. The decision “will make anchorage areas in Davao Gulf – particularly Malalag and Bunawan Bays, Pujada Bay and Mayo Bay – a more attractive option for international shipping companies which intend to lay-up their idle vessels at the facilities opened by the Philippine government for this purpose," the Department of Foreign Affairs said on its website on Tuesday. Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James in London Antonio Lagdameo welcomed the JWC decision, noting London is considered as the maritime capital of the world. Lagdameo is also the Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the International Maritime Organization. The announcement “validates government efforts to make Mindanao a stable and peaceful place for international shipping companies to do business," Lagdameo said. Last May, Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Maria Elena Bautista led a delegation of officials from the Philippine Embassy in London and the Philippine Coast Guard to meet with executives of Aegis Defence Services (Aegis), JWC's external security consultant. The Philippine delegation formally briefed them on the peace and order situation in Davao Gulf. Bautista highlighted the peaceful environment in Davao Gulf which is supportive of attracting international shipping companies to lay-up their idle merchant vessels in the area. A team from Aegis was then invited to the Philippines in mid-August to inspect the measures undertaken by the national and local government agencies to eliminate or minimize any security risk to international merchant vessels that would be availing of the lay-up facilities in Davao Gulf. - GMANews.TV