Mintra and MARINA Partner to Advance Filipino Seafarer Training

Maritime training and workforce management provider Mintra has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Maritime Industry Authority of the Philippines (MARINA) to strengthen digital learning and skills development across the country’s maritime industry.

The agreement was signed in Manila on today to coincide with the Day of the Seafarer. It establishes a framework for collaboration on training, competence management, and workforce development.

The Philippines is the world’s largest source of seafarers, supplying around one-quarter of the global merchant shipping workforce. The new partnership comes as the maritime industry faces increasing demand for crews with the skills to work with alternative fuels, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and more advanced vessel operations.

As part of the agreement, Mintra and MARINA will assess opportunities to develop digital training programs, introduce train-the-trainer initiatives, and improve access to maritime learning resources. They will also explore using Mintra’s Trainingportal platform for digital certification, competence monitoring, and workforce skills management.

The partnership is expected to give employers greater visibility of workforce capabilities, improve compliance monitoring, and provide a clearer understanding of individual competence across the maritime sector.

The initiative supports MARINA’s Maritime Industry Development Plan, which aims to strengthen the competitiveness and long-term sustainability of the Philippine maritime industry.

The two organizations will also investigate how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, can enhance maritime education and workforce planning. Future discussions are also expected to cover workforce diversity initiatives, including programs designed to encourage greater participation by women in the shipping industry.

Mintra CEO Kevin Short said the maritime sector is entering a period of rapid transformation that will require new approaches to training and competence management.

The maritime industry is undergoing significant change, and ensuring people have the right skills, knowledge and support will be critical to its future success,” Short said.

MARINA said the agreement supports its goal of ensuring Filipino seafarers remain among the world’s most competitive maritime professionals while equipping them for the changing demands of international shipping.

The partnership has also received support from the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila. Geir Michalsen, chargé d’affaires, said the agreement highlights the growing importance of international collaboration in tackling challenges related to digitalization, sustainability, and workforce development.

A joint coordinating committee will oversee the implementation of the MOU, developing action plans, timelines, and measurable objectives for future projects.