The world economy is heavily dependent on maritime transport, as most of the international trade is carried out by sea. Delay in shipping can result in severe financial loss, especially for the management team in the distribution channel. This heavy dependency makes the shipping industry an attractive target for cyber criminals. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the digitization of the world,…
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As we celebrate International Day of the Seafarer, we are pleased to present a review of the outcomes from the recent June 2023 Mission to Seafarers Executive Roundtable on Crew Welfare held in Singapore. The event focused on identifying solutions to the challenges faced by seafarers. The Roundtable explored 5 key areas that significantly impact the lives of seafarers: (1)…
The proposed Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers is designed to provide comprehensive protection for seafarers before, during, and after employment especially in the event of maritime accidents, pandemics or epidemics, or other natural or manmade disasters. It codifies the rights of seafarers into a single reference law. Who are the seafarers in the Magna Carta. This Act shall cover Filipino…
STCW training provisions on bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH) The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW 9), 6-10 February 2023, agreed to draft amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment in the maritime sector, including…
The Philippine delegation, headed by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), participated in the 9th Session of the Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training, and Watchkeeping (HTW) held on 06 to 10 February 2023 at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters, London, United Kingdom. The HTW deals with the human side of shipping, including training and certification, review and revision of IMO…
As the International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) reports a high demand for its helpline services over the last year, it is clear that accessible welfare and support services for seafarers worldwide remain a priority for the maritime industry. In its newly released annual review covering 1st April 2021 to 31st March 2022, ISWAN reports that the total number…
An estimated 800,000 seafarers will require additional training by the mid-2030s to enable the shipping industry to transition towards alternative low carbon fuels or zero-carbon fuels and green technologies. The goal is to keep global warming to 1.5C or less by 2050, according to a DNV Study commissioned by the Maritime Just Transition Task Force Secretariat. Findings also point to the uncertainty…
The pandemic was really a disruptive game-changer. Even before the pandemic sent home most of our seafarers in 2020; their number has been dwindling the years prior. From close to 470,000 in 2019 it dropped 54% in 2020 to about 217,000. Deployment in 2018 dropped by more than 100,000. While the number of Philippine seafarers is dwindling, the number of…
In my previous contributions to the Maritime Review, I highlighted the importance of an all-government approach to national security in updating a National Defense and Act. In my second contribution which was about Maritime Governance and administration, I highlighted the fragmentation of our various agencies and recommended amending the executive order that created the Coast Watch System, and updating the…
“The more we work together, the merrier we’ll be.” Or so the popular lullaby goes. However this does not ring true for the Philippine domestic ships with an overwhelmingly large number of cadets onboard. The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) Report conducted last year states, “The team found cases in which 11, 16 or even 37 deck cadets were onboard…
Marwa Elselehdar has become the first woman to work as a sea captain in Egypt. Ms. Elselehdar enrolled in the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Egypt and joined the International Transport and Logistics Department, but she was more drawn to the Department of Maritime Transport and Technology. Marwa Elselehdar submitted an application to join and was…
Numerous manning agencies based in Manila support the Neptune Declaration, to ensure the wellbeing of seafarers affected by the crew change crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to local media, the Neptune Declaration was signed by over 450 maritime industry and human rights leaders, including Döhle Seafront Crewing (Manila), Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC), and OSM Maritime, representing the Philippines. Commenting…
Over 90% of shipping businesses are re-thinking how crew changes are managed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new research carried out by travel management company, ATPI Marine & Energy. Representatives from over 30 different shipping businesses around the world took part in the research, the results of which were unveiled this week and show the impact…
Some 400,000 seafarers from across the globe are now stranded on ships, continuing to work but unable to be relieved, in a deepening crew change crisis which threatens trade and maritime safety. During a high-level event on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly (24 September), Captain Hedi Marzougui, who was in command of a vessel between December 2019…
Over the long months of the global pandemic, with many countries still struggling to flatten the curve on the graph of the number of people infected by Covid-19, the Philippines has played and continues to play its part in the battle to control, if not eradicate, the deadly virus. At the time of this writing, Metro Manila remains under General…
Seafarers from the Philippines are the most satisfied seafarer group by nationality serving onboard ships, as shown by the SAFETY4SEA Crew Wellness survey. The difference with the other nationalities was actually so wide that it could lead us to assume that there is a correlation between nationality and happiness onboard. The SAFETY4SEA survey took place in Q4 2019, gathering responses…
A Regional Meeting of Asia’s leading seafaring nations has highlighted the plight seafarers face in the event of a maritime accident and has pledged to lead the drive towards proper and effective implementation of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labor Organization (ILO) agreed Guidelines on the Fair Treatment of Seafarers. The Regional Meeting, held in Manila on 13-November,…
The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have jointly released new Guidelines for implementing the Welfare Aspects of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). Adopted by the International Labor Organization (ILO) in 2006, the MLC aims to ensure comprehensive worldwide protection and enforcement of the rights of seafarers and to establish a level playing field…
At the last SAFETY4SEA Conference, Capt. Hans Hederström, Managing Director, Center for Simulator Maritime Training (CSMART), discussed steps to create a safety environment in shipping. Among the most important things, he stressed, “The Captain has the role of a leader instead of an operator, willing to delegate and coach officers. Combining voyage planning and Bridge Resource Management, and effective communication…
“The most important aspect of saving fuel and energy on board a vessel, is the crew,” Peter Knudsen, managing director at Blueflow Energy Management told VPO Global. The maritime industry has taken huge strides to improve the performance of the global fleet with the development of new technologies, increasing quantities of data, and improved connectivity between ship and shore. Advanced…
The Filipino seafarers working onboard the Bahamas-registered Flag-of-Convenience (FOC) vessel Diana, owned by Canadian Shipping Lines (CSL) Australia, are underpaid, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) said. The union informed on Tuesday that it had inspected the Handy bulk carrier in Melbourne having received a tip-off. The Filipino seafarers are effectively operating full time on the Australian coast, according to…
JX Ocean Co. Ltd garners yet another recognition. Fiipino Association for Mariner’s Employment Inc. (FAME), as part of their 40th Anniversary’s Culminating Activity, decided to recognize institutions that have shaped the Shipping Industry through their various contributions. JX was commended for not only their continuous patronage of Filipino Seafarer’s, but also their extra-ordinary contribution and investment on the industry.
The International Committee on Seafarers’ Welfare (ICSW) has published a report on seafarer access to communications technology in port, which it claims is “taking a back seat because of high investment costs and ports’ concerns about security.” The Developments in New Technology & Implications for Seafarers’ Welfare report was commissioned by ICSW in order to learn more about how port-wide…
The Philippines’ estimated 380,000 seafarers have much to cheer about as the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) have reached the final agreement regarding the pay hike of sailors serving in the international merchant marine fleet. The conclusion, which has been hard fought by both sides, resulted in a three-year deal being…
The STCW convention, mainly addressing the competency and training standards for crew on board merchant ships, was amended in Manila, June of 2010 where it received a thorough overhaul. The convention first saw daylight in 1978, and then again in 1995 with the current convention which has been serving its purpose well by aligning training and certification standards across the…