Marino World is celebrating its 20 years in the industry with a major project – the Marino World Manning Expo and Conference (MWMEC) 2025, which will be held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City from September 29 to October 1, 2025.

 

Themed “Shaping the Future of Filipino Seafarers for Sustainable Shipping,” MWMEC will bring together seafarers and their families, cadets, shipowners and ship managers, maritime executives and staff, educators and trainers, government officials and employees, and service providers and suppliers to network, discuss and collaborate for the development and empowerment of our seafarers who are the heart and soul of the maritime industry.

MWMEC’s conference sessions aim to address not only the lingering concerns but also the future challenges in the employment of our Filipino seafarers, anticipating the shipping’s huge transformation with the coming of new fuels, digitalization and automation.

The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers will be revisited after one year of implementation, and stakeholders will discuss critical issues on criminalization of seafarers. The official event partners will also co-host industry dialogues and networking sessions.

At the exhibition hall, seafarers can explore job opportunities with the recruitment activities,  authorized and supported by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). Products and services for the seafarers and their families will also be displayed and presented at the event.

MWMEC promises to be a collaborative gathering between seafarers, employers, and the government to help the Philippines become more robust in the face of future global shipping issues.

MWMEC is happening simultaneously with The Maritime League’s Blue Economy Annual Trade and Conference (BEACON 2025).

For MWMEC sponsorships and exhibit space, call 0956-4892192 or email marinoworldpublication@gmail.com.

Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Sonia Malaluan appealed to Filipino seafarers to thoroughly read and understand the requirements and procedures for processing their documents, as the agency continues to face challenges due to incomplete or unqualified applications.

Speaking during a Philippine Information Agency (PIA) press conference on 25 April 2025, Administrator Malaluan addressed the thousands of applications received by MARINA daily, many of which, she said are either lacking in necessary documents or do not meet qualifications.

“Aapila po ako sa ating mga seafarers na basahin po nating mabuti kung ano ang mga kinakailangan ninyong mga dokumento at proseso. Sa libo-libong applications na natatanggap namin, marami po roon ang kulang ang dokumento o hindi sila qualified kaya tumatagal ang proseso,” Administrator Malaluan said. 

Administrator Malaluan also emphasized that many assume submission alone guarantees approval, when in reality, it slows down the process if requirements are incomplete.

To address the issue, the MARINA has been continuously enhancing its digital platforms and resources, including the development of new portals and information materials aimed at guiding seafarers step-by-step through the application process. “It’s a big help if everything is read and understood first,” she pointed out.  

The MARINA chief assured the public that the agency remains committed to streamlining processes, but stressed that seafarers’ cooperation is crucial to avoid unnecessary delays in securing their documents.

The World Shipping Council (WSC) voiced serious concerns regarding the port fee regime announced by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), cautioning that the measures could undermine American trade, hurt U.S. producers, and weaken efforts to strengthen the nation’s maritime industry.

“Revitalizing America’s maritime sector is an important and widely shared goal — one that requires a long-term, legislative and industrial strategy. We welcomed the vision outlined in the President’s Executive Order, which proposes targeted initiatives to strengthen U.S. shipbuilding, ports, and supply chain resilience. Unfortunately, the fee regime announced by USTR is a step in the wrong direction as it will raise prices for consumers, weaken U.S. trade and do little to revitalize the U.S. maritime industry,” said Joe Kramek, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council.

Concerns with the USTR Fee Regime

The World Shipping Council outlined several key concerns:

Retroactive Port Fees: Applying fees to vessels that are already on the water offers no support for U.S. shipbuilding and, instead, risks harming American exporters — particularly farmers — at a time when global trade is facing significant strain. These backward-looking penalties disrupt long-term investment planning, introducing new costs and unpredictability for American businesses and consumers.

Fees Calculated on NT: Structuring fees based on ship size — Net Tonnage (NT) — disproportionately penalizes larger, more efficient vessels that deliver essential goods, including components used in U.S. production lines. Nearly half of all liner shipping imports to the U.S. are used directly in domestic production processes. Increasing the cost of these shipments will reverberate through the supply chain, raising production costs for American businesses and, ultimately, for consumers. It will also penalize U.S. ports, who have made significant investments to expand their capacity to attract and handle the largest container ships serving the trade.

Fees on car carriers: Additionally, the USTR actions this week included a new and previously unannounced fee based on Car Equivalent Unit (CEU) capacity for almost every vehicle carrier in the world. This arbitrary action, targeting all foreign-built vessels, will further slow U.S. economic growth and raise automobile prices for American consumers, while doing little to encourage U.S maritime investment.

Legal and Strategic Concerns: WSC also flagged significant legal concerns, noting that the proposed fees appear to extend beyond the authority granted under U.S. trade law.

The WSC is urging the Administration to reconsider this counterproductive measure, which risks harming U.S. consumers, manufacturers, and farmers without delivering meaningful progress toward revitalizing the U.S. maritime industry.

A Call for Constructive Solutions

The World Shipping Council reaffirmed its commitment to working collaboratively with the Administration and industry stakeholders on solutions that can truly strengthen the U.S. maritime sector. Constructive pathways — such as targeted investment incentives, infrastructure improvements, and streamlined regulatory processes — can deliver lasting benefits without disrupting U.S. trade or raising costs for American producers and consumers.

It is also important to recognize that the U.S. shipbuilding sector already faces significant constraints, including a backlog of military orders and ongoing labor shortages. Similarly, a shortage of trained and certified U.S. mariners limits the potential to expand U.S.-flag shipping, even if the regulatory environment was improved.

WSC members are proud to be integral contributors to the U.S. economy and maritime community. Liner shipping moves 65% of U.S. seaborne trade, contributes more than $2 trillion annually to the U.S. economy, and supports 6.4 million American jobs paying more than $420 billion in wages. WSC members also represent 75% of the vessels enrolled in the U.S. Maritime Security Program and bring significant shipbuilding experience and expertise to the U.S. maritime sector.

“The World Shipping Council remains fully committed to supporting U.S. efforts to revitalize the American maritime industry,” Kramek concluded. “We urge policymakers to pursue strategies that encourage growth, strengthen supply chain resilience, and avoid actions that risk harming American exporters, producers, and consumers at a time when global trade is already under pressure.”