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The finalists for the Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global Awards have been announced following a rigorous selection process by an independent panel of international judges.&nbsp;The overall winners will be announced on the evening of Thursday 14 November 2024 as part of the Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global conference, which takes place from 12–14 November 2024 at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila in The Philippines.&nbsp;The finalists from the six categories are:&nbsp;&nbsp;1. Innovation and Adoption of Technology Award• 90POE• OSM Thome• Bigyellowfish Technologies• Bound4blue• MarinePALS&nbsp;2. Environmental Champion Award&nbsp;• V.ERDE• Berge Bulk&nbsp;3. Health and Wellbeing at Sea Award&nbsp;• IMEQ Center• 88 Aces• BW Group• Maritime &amp; Healthcare Group• MedSea&nbsp;4. Seafarer of the Year&nbsp;• Mahdi Pakzad• Captain Ruben Magallanes• Ian John Fayo Obapial• Majella Angelie P. Albances• Abigal Chin-Sood&nbsp;5. Industry Partner Award• Ocean Technologies GroupInformation Classification: General• OSM Thome• PHILCAMSAT• Onboard Maritime• V.Care&nbsp;6. Training and Safety at Sea Award• Blue Orange Wave• PHILCAMSAT• Berge Bulk• VIKAND• MarinePALS&nbsp;Two more awards – selected by the Seatrade Maritime editorial team – will be revealed on&nbsp;the night for Lifetime Achievement and Personality of the Year.&nbsp;According to Chris Morley, Group Director, Seatrade Maritime and organisers of Seatrade&nbsp;Maritime Crew Connect Global: “There were a record number of entries for these awards&nbsp;this year – which illustrates well how significant these are within the industry and the&nbsp;prestige that is held around them for winners.&nbsp;“The judging panel had a tough task – the entries were all excellent – but through a&nbsp;transparent and robust evaluation process, we have found our six winners. Whilst each&nbsp;category was different, each focused on specific elements of improving the lives and&nbsp;careers of seafarers – which is ultimately what these last few days has been about, to bring&nbsp;together the industry for common causes.”&nbsp;This year’s panel of judges included: Ben Bailey - Director of Programme, The Mission to&nbsp;Seafarers; Fabrizio Barcellona - Maritime Coordinator, International Transport Workers'&nbsp;Federation and Executive Board Member, World Maritime University (WMU); Francesco&nbsp;Gargiulo - Chief Executive Officer, IMEC; Simon Grainge - Chief Executive, International&nbsp;Seafarers' Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN) and Andreas Nordseth - Director&nbsp;General, Danish Maritime Authority (DMA).

Finalists announced for Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global Awards

The finalists for the Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global Awards have been announced following a rigorous selection process by an independent panel of international judges.

The overall winners will be announced on the evening of Thursday 14 November 2024 as part of the Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global conference, which takes place from 12–14 November 2024 at Shangri-La The Fort, Manila in The Philippines.



Marino World recently had a one-on-one interview with Executive Director Samuel Batalla of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) STCW Office.&nbsp;Batalla, who holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Maritime Affairs specializing in Maritime Administration from World Maritime University (WMU), previously served as the OIC-Director of the MARINA Regional Office (MRO) 12.&nbsp;MLC.MARINA shortened the Management Level Course (MLC) for deck officers from 425 hours (53 days) to 193 hours (24 days) and for engine officers from 565 hours (70 days) to 311 hours (38 days).&nbsp;MLC is a training program developed by MARINA in compliance with the STCW Convention, specifically Regulation II/2 and III/2, requiring every candidate for certification as Master and Chief Mate, and Chief Engineer and Second Engineer, respectively, to complete approved education and training, and meet the standards of competence specified in Sections A-II/2 and A-III/2 of the STCW Code.&nbsp;According to Batalla, “the revised MLC underwent thorough review and was aligned in the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention and requirements of the industry.”&nbsp;He explained that the overhaul’s focus was on the redundancies in the current curriculums of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation (BSMT) and Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering (BSMarE). The approach and competencies from the operational level were also upgraded to the management level.&nbsp;The review and crafting of the revised MLC, which began in October 2023 were carried out by MARINA’s Maritime Education and Training Standard (METS) officers, the Board of Examiners, subject matter experts who are captains and chief engineers, and technical staff from the current MLC providers.&nbsp;He said that the revised MLC was pilot tested with trainees from MLC providers. Aside from the course frameworks, outlines and timelines; the instructors guide and additional assessment tools were added.&nbsp;&nbsp;Currently, 11 accredited training institutions offer MLC and will be required to submit their revised MLC course package for evaluation, inspection and approval.&nbsp;Batalla stated that they will prioritize the existing MLC providers, but they are also open to new training center applicants.&nbsp;The revised MLC is scheduled for full implementation in January 2025, as indicated by MARINA's Supplementary Technical Guidance. Batalla emphasized that by January, no older MLC course packages will be allowed.&nbsp;&nbsp;He explained that the MLC delivery is by function. Thus, a seafarer who was unable to finish the course in December 2024 can take the remaining functions in January 2025 under the revised MLC.&nbsp;With the shortened MLC, it is anticipated that more aspiring management level officers will take the course at reduced training fees.&nbsp;&nbsp;Magna CartaBatalla confirmed that MARINA requested additional budget of P200 million for the implementation of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. on September 23, 2024.&nbsp;“How can you implement Magna Carta if no additional budget,” asked Batalla.&nbsp;He said, the funding will be used for the establishment of the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Human Element which will focused on research, policy and development of education and training courses for international and domestic shipping.&nbsp;MARINA is proposing for additional 100 staff and more equipment to carry out its pivotal role in enhancement of the country’s education and training systems for overseas and domestic seafarers.&nbsp;&nbsp;According to Chapter XVIII, Section 75 of the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, entitled Education and Training of Seafarers and Cadets: Consistent with Republic Act No 10635, otherwise known as “An Act Establishing the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) as the Single Maritime Administration Responsible for the Implementation and Enforcement of the 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, as Amended, and International Agreements or Covenants Related Thereto”, MARINA shall have jurisdiction over maritime education.&nbsp;&nbsp;Moreover, under Section 83, MARINA shall be authorized to regulate the fees imposed by MARINA-accredited maritime training institutions for maritime courses and programs required under the STCW Convention, as amended. The MARINA Board shall ensure that the fees charged for these training courses are reasonable.&nbsp;&nbsp;There are currently 83 maritime schools, 85 training centers, 40 assessment centers in the country. Batalla said, the target is to inspect all of these institutions in one year.&nbsp;STCW reviewBatalla cited the Philippines proposal for the Comprehensive Review of the STCW Convention:&nbsp;1. Shorten onboard training requirements under Regulation II/1, to be complemented with training programs using advanced simulators,2. To eliminate inspections such as EMSA audit, citing the country’s existing bilateral agreements on the recognition of seafarers’ certificates,3. Address gaps in the training of seafarers subject to IGF Code, such as on bunkering operations&nbsp;4. Digitalization of seafarers’ documentation, including STCW certificates, and5. Address the issues of violence and harassment in the workplace&nbsp;He stated that five MARINA representatives who attended the one-week intersessional working group meeting for comprehensive review in October to garner support from other IMO member countries and defend the country’s proposals.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Batalla confirmed that a Danish company will facilitate the technical assistance pledged by the European Commission (EC) to further improve the Philippines’ education, training and certification system for seafarers.&nbsp;Inspections by the experts are part of the process, "to determine what we need." However, Batalla quickly clarified that the inspection is not an audit or evaluation.&nbsp;The technical assistance will be implemented for a period of three years, from 2025 to 2027, following the completion of the contract.&nbsp;

Batalla on MLC, Magna Carta, STCW review

MARINA shortened the Management Level Course (MLC) for deck officers from 425 hours (53 days) to 193 hours (24 days) and for engine officers from 565 hours (70 days) to 311 hours (38 days).

Facts and Perspectives:The Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is on top of the latest developments on the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers and is most likely to sign the bill into law soon after it was ratified anew by the Senate and House of Representatives.

He keeps his ear to the ground, sensing the challenges and intricacies of the maritime industry. The measure is a significant milestone. Its passage is long overdue; but given the industry's complexity, it will not be an easy piece of legislation.

Amid geopolitical conflicts AMOSUP calls for seafarers’ protection

In the midst of the rising geopolitical tensions, the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP), has renewed its’ call for the protection of seafarers, “who are key essential workers keeping the unhampered flow of the global supply chain.”

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