The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), through its Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Office, successfully convened the 2025 Maritime Research Forum recently in Manila. The two-day event brought together leading maritime experts and stakeholders to review critical national research initiatives aimed at strengthening training and competency standards for the safe operation of ships utilizing zero or near-zero GHG emission fuels and other emerging technologies.
The forum serves as MARINA’s proactive response to the global maritime industry’s rapid transition toward decarbonization and technological advancement.
In his welcome address, STCW Office Executive Director Samuel L. Batalla highlighted the significance of these initiatives. “These research efforts reaffirm MARINA’s commitment to ensuring that Filipino seafarers remain among the world’s most skilled, adaptable, and highly sought-after maritime professionals,” Batalla stated.
A central feature of the forum was the presentation of a completed research study on Seafarers’ Training Requirements on the Safe Operation of Ships using Zero or Near Zero GHG Emission Fuels and Technologies. The comprehensive study comprised three main projects:
- A systematic literature review on the necessary skills and competency requirements for operating alternative fuel ships.
- A benchmarking of best practices globally for the safe operation of vessels utilizing new fuels.
- An assessment of the current skills and competence of Filipino seafarers concerning alternative fuels.
Additionally, the STCW Office’s Research and Development Division (RDD) presented a proposed training framework based on the research findings to rapidly integrate these new competencies into national certification programs. Preliminary findings on the impact assessment and skills required for operating Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS) were also shared.
In closing remarks, STCW Office Deputy Executive Director Capt. Vicente C. Navarro emphasized that the forum is “not an ending, but the beginning of sustained collaboration to transform research outputs into responsive training programs and timely policy reforms.”
The event concluded with a unified call to action for industry and academic partners to continue collaborating with MARINA, ensuring that the nation’s training and certification standards remain fully aligned with international developments and successfully secure the competitiveness of Filipino seafarers in the future maritime landscape.
