LEADERS and stakeholders of the Philippine maritime industry are united in welcoming the country’s reinclusion on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Whitelist — a development that ensures job stability for more than 400,000 Filipino seafarers.
The IMO Whitelist is composed of countries compliant with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW). The STCW Convention is the reference used by foreign auditors inspecting the level of compliance of IMO member states with international maritime standards.
“That convention sets a minimum standard for all seafarers. It levels the playing field for seamen of all nationalities to be hired by any ship owner. It requires a Whitelist, however — those who have complied with the requirements set by the IMO. Without this, a seafarer cannot be hired,” Brenda Pimentel, former regional coordinator of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in East Asia, said in a previous interview.
The reinclusion on the IMO Whitelist guarantees job stability for 460,147 Filipino seafarers who, according to Bimco’s 2026 Seafarers Workforce Report, comprise 203,179 officers and 256,968 ratings as part of the global pool of STCW-certified seafarers.
The report established that Filipino seafarers remain the most represented nationality serving aboard the global merchant fleet. Filipinos ranked first not only in the total number of seafarers deployed, but also in both the officer and rating categories.
Confidence booster
Employers and unions alike are enthusiastic about this latest development, highlighting the country’s commitment to upholding international shipping safety standards.
“This recognition strengthens the confidence of the global maritime community in Filipino seafarers and reinforces the competitiveness of the Philippine manning industry,” Iris Baguilat, chairman of the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA) Maritime Group, said.
Baguilat expressed optimism that the Philippines will continue to meet the standards required for the recognition of our seafarers’ certificates by European Union Member States, as assessed under the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) framework.
“Sustaining compliance with these international and regional standards is vital to preserving opportunities for Filipino seafarers and maintaining the country’s standing as a leading provider of competent maritime professionals,” she said.
ALMA Maritime Group is the leading association of Philippine-licensed manning agencies, deploying about 170,000 Filipino seafarers.
Conrado Oca, president of the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (Amosup), also warmly welcomed the country’s reinclusion on the Whitelist, stating that this significant achievement is the “result of the unified commitment and collective efforts of the Philippine government, maritime education and training institutions, industry stakeholders, and all those who worked tirelessly to uphold and maintain the highest standards of maritime excellence.”
Oca said that inclusion on the Whitelist is a fitting recognition “of the proven competence, professionalism, resilience, and dedication of the Filipino seafarers, whose outstanding service continues to earn the confidence of the global maritime community.”
“As one of the world’s leading suppliers of maritime labor, the Philippines remains steadfast in its commitment to developing world-class seafarers and advancing the highest standards of maritime safety, healthcare, and welfare,” Oca said in a statement.
Amosup is the largest and one of the oldest seafarers’ unions in the Philippines, with over 90,000 members.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Maritime Training Centers Inc. (PAMTCI), through its president, Karen Avelino, said the reinclusion on the Whitelist is a significant milestone that reaffirms the country’s commitment to upholding the highest international standards in maritime education, training, assessment, and certification.
PAMTCI said this achievement is the result of the collective efforts of the Philippine government, led by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina), in close collaboration with the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), maritime education and training institutions, manning agencies, and the entire Philippine maritime sector.
“It reflects years of hard work, reforms, and unwavering commitment to strengthening the country’s maritime education and training system,” PAMTCI added.
