The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Lloyd’s Register OneOcean (LROO), and the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) of the Philippines Department of Transportation have signed a significant agreement to digitize seafarer certification processes.
In a statement, ICS revealed that the parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a pilot project aimed at integrating seafarer certification systems and developing a new mobile application.
The MoU, signed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) headquarters in London, seeks to reduce the administrative challenges tied to paper-based seafarer endorsement and verification.
The initiative will ensure greater efficiency for flag administrations, port state control authorities, seafarers, and shipping companies.
“Despite the need for frequent renewals and varying requirements between countries, paper certificates remain dominant, causing risks such as errors, vulnerabilities, and delays,” said ICS.
As the industry moves towards digital solutions, the pilot project will evaluate methods for digitizing certification processes with a focus on security, enhanced collaboration, and ease of use.
“We believe this is a critical next step in supporting the maritime sector with a new solution that minimizes administrative burden and maximizes industry efficiency, ensuring a safer and more sustainable future,” said ICS Secretary General Guy Platten.
“The Philippines is the world’s largest provider of seafarers, and partnering with Marina is essential for the success of this project. We look forward to collaborating with Lloyd’s Register OneOcean and Marina to make this pilot a success,” he added.
LROO co-CEO Nicholas Goubert highlighted the company’s established role in maritime compliance and safety, stating, “Through LR OneOcean, we’re leveraging our expertise to explore how digital solutions can improve certification processes, making them more efficient for seafarers, flag administrations, and the broader maritime industry.”
Sonia Malaluan, Marina’s Administrator, emphasized the agency’s commitment to adopting digital innovations.
“This pilot project marks a key milestone in creating a global platform for a seamless certification process for Filipino seafarers, aligning the Philippines with global maritime standards and advancing the industry’s digital transformation,” she said.
The pilot will test the viability of a system that securely stores and consolidates all seafarer certificates, providing real-time access to key stakeholders.
This system will enable seafarers to control their data, facilitating smoother travel and mobility within the industry.
This collaboration also supports recent amendments to the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) code, which came into effect on January 1, further driving the maritime industry’s transition to digital certification.
The MoU outlines the next steps for the pilot project, including evaluating the technical and regulatory requirements for a global digital certification system.
ICS, LROO, and Marina will work on an initial API (Application Programming Interface) integration concept, linking Marina’s Integrated Seafarers Management Online System (Mismo) to the pilot platform.
Once validated, Marina will engage its community of approximately 400,000 Filipino seafarers to gather insights on digital certification needs and adoption strategies.
