THE Cebu Maritime Expo (CME) kicks off today at the IEC Convention Center with a bigger mission for the local maritime industry.
Set until April 24, the event showcases innovations for the domestic shipping and manning industry based on this year’s theme, Forging Forward: Shaping a New Era of Maritime Excellence and Industry Growth.
CME brings together maritime experts, shipping pioneers, and administration leaders to highlight Cebu’s strength as one of the country’s biggest maritime hubs.
One of the expo’s highlights is the Maritime Job Fair, the biggest of its kind in Cebu and hosted by One Maritime Group (OMG).
The job fair is open and free for all maritime professionals such as seafarers, naval architects and marine engineers, shipbuilders, shipping professionals, Philippine Navy, and the Philippine Coast Guard.
The expo will also hold events such as a maritime trade exhibition, maritime conferences, shipyard convention, naval defense and security conference, maritime safety and security conference, Cebu International Boat Show, shipbuilding and repair pavilion, technical trainings, and tourism features.
“This 2026, we unite the entire maritime community under one powerful vision: to drive innovation, accelerate growth, and elevate the Philippines as a global maritime force,” CME stated in its official social media post.
“It’s not just about the steel, the engines, or the massive vessels. At its heart, the industry is about people. We are the cradle for the world’s best sailors, and we are forging the future of global trade with Cebuano hands and world-class innovations,” says Blanca Bustamante, secretary of the One Maritime Group, this year’s CME host.
OMG is an organization formed by composite industry group leaders such as the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers Inc. (Soname), The Maritime League, Philippine Register of Shipping (PRS), Shipyard Association of the Philippines (SHAP), Metro Shipbuilders and Ship Repairers Association Inc. (MSSRAI), Marine and Technical Superintendent Association of the Philippines (MTSAP), Ship Managers Association of the Philippines (SMAP), IntelleVision Events Philippines, and the Maritime Journalists Association of the Philippines (MJAP).
Cebu is home to some of the biggest maritime associations, local shipowners, and shipbuilding companies. Cebu is also a significant center of tourism and an old historical city for shipping.
