BACOLOD CITY — The 51st Annual Convention of the Philippine Association of Maritime Institutions (PAMI) served as a critical meeting point for two vital industry pillars: the push for future technology and the preservation of the human element in an increasingly digitalized era.
Held from Feb. 19 to 20 at the Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod, the event showcased a powerful synergy between the technical D&D (digitalization and decarbonization) and the character-building focus of Philippine maritime educators. The convention proved particularly timely, aligning with the recent visit of IMO Secretary-General to the Philippines Arsenio Dominguez, which emphasized human-centric conversations and the upcoming revisions to the STCW Code.
In an interview, Dr. Ian Chew, founder and CEO of Singapore-based ClimateTech startup Greenie Web and a consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB), explained that the “seafarer of the year 2100” must be a digital native to survive.
“I think it’s the D&D. It’s not dinner and dance. It’s digitalization and decarbonization,” Chew said. “Because I feel that in the Philippines, there’s just so much potential. The seafarer of year 2100... is one who is very familiar with digital tools. Because the ship of the future is going to be AI-powered, it’s going to be maybe battery-powered.”
Chew expanded on the “leapfrog effect,” noting that the Philippines has a unique opportunity to skip traditional, carbon-heavy technologies and move directly into the high-tech systems of the future, where the global playing field is still level. He stressed that as ships transition to renewable power, seafarers must become experts in ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and sustainability. “To be able to amplify that message to the leaders here [at PAMI] is the most meaningful part of this visit,” he added, noting that seafarers remain the indispensable lifeblood of the entire global shipping industry.
The human element in a digital age
While Chew provided the technological roadmap, Sabino Czar Manglicmot, president of PAMI, grounded the discussion in the essential human factor. Reflecting on his attendance at recent IMO meetings, Manglicmot stressed that brilliance alone is not enough to run a ship.
“We must not forget that to run all of this, we need the human factor behind it. And this I guess underscores the importance of this convention,” Manglicmot stated.
He observed a stark contrast between “digital migrants” (the educators) and the “digital citizens” (Gen Z and Alpha students). “These generations are better than us.... They are brilliant. However, they lack interpersonal skills. They lack communications. And they also have excluded themselves and have always remained in their own safe zone. But these are not the characteristics needed to be a seafarer. It’s the opposite. We need to be characterly tough. We need to confront all of the challenges and to face isolation and boredom.”
A unified vision
The convention concluded that these two perspectives are effectively converging. The “ship of the future” described by Chew requires the “characterly tough” seafarer described by Manglicmot to navigate both AI systems and the mental challenges of isolation at sea.
“Without seafarers, your ships won’t be maintained; they will be in a lot of trouble right now,” Chew remarked, echoing the sentiment that even the most advanced battery-powered vessel remains reliant on the Filipino maritime professional.
