A landmark agreement has been established between Lloyd’s Register OneOcean (LROO), the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Philippines to explore a future for digital seafarer certification. Signed at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Headquarters in London, this Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aims to enhance the verification processes associated with seafarer certification, improving efficiency, security, and reducing administrative burdens.
The collaboration seeks to develop a secure digital platform whereby seafarer certificates can be stored, verified, and accessed in real time by shipping companies, regulators, port state control, and seafarers themselves. Alongside this platform, a mobile application will be created for seafarers to manage their credentials digitally. The shift from traditional paper-based certification to a digital framework is anticipated to minimize errors and security risks, thereby promoting efficiency.
Currently, the processes for renewing and verifying seafarer certificates differ considerably across nations. This inconsistency often results in delays and cumbersome paperwork. The pilot project is designed to assess how a digital system can mitigate these issues, fostering a smoother global certification process. The ICS emphasizes that transitioning to digital solutions represents a significant modernization step for the maritime industry. Given that the Philippines is the leading global supplier of seafarers, this collaboration with MARINA is especially critical.
Lloyd’s Register OneOcean plays an important role in ensuring maritime safety and compliance, and believes that digital certification will simplify procedures for seafarers, ship management companies, and regulators. Their collaboration with ICS and MARINA aims to build a robust and accessible digital certification system for the maritime sector. MARINA has expressed a commitment to leveraging digital innovations to enhance operational efficiency and security, viewing the pilot project as a key step toward aligning with international maritime standards while modernizing the certification processes for Filipino seafarers.
This initiative aligns with the recent amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, effective January 1, 2025, which support the global shift towards digital certification and more efficient verification methods. The collaboration will also involve developing an Application Programming Interface (API) to connect MARINA’s Integrated Seafarers Management Online System (MISMO) with the digital certification platform, facilitating quicker and more reliable certification verification while enabling seafarers to control their own data.
Upon successful completion of the pilot project, MARINA will engage with its community of around 400,000 Filipino seafarers to gather insights on the adoption of digital certification. Their feedback will be crucial in refining the system to meet the demands of both seafarers and maritime organizations globally. This innovative approach aims to pave the way for a modernized, efficient, and secure certification process in the maritime industry.
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