PH, Belgium boost maritime ties on green shipping, seafarer training

MANILA, July 2 ------ The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) welcomed a Belgian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Maxime Prévot for high-level talks aimed at strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation.

MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan said Prévot's visit — the first by a Belgian foreign minister since 1993 — highlights growing cooperation between the Philippines and Belgium in green shipping, seafarer development, digital transformation and maritime investments. "The meeting underscores the growing momentum in Philippines-Belgium relations and reflects both countries' shared commitment to fostering a modern, sustainable, and globally competitive maritime industry," Malaluan said in a statement.

The delegation toured the International Food Services (IFS) Maritime Catering Training Centre, which showcases Belgium's investments in enhancing the skills of Filipino seafarers. MARINA also presented its digital initiatives, including the MARINA Integrated Seafarers Management Online System and the MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Automated Certification System.

The meeting also covered workforce development aligned with the International Maritime Organization's 2023 Greenhouse Gas Strategy, as well as possible partnerships in shipbuilding, ship repair and ship recycling in the Philippines. The officials also discussed the European Union–Association of Southeast Asian Nations Sustainable Connectivity Package (EU-SCOPE) for seafarers project, which supports the Philippines in strengthening its implementation of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006.

Joining Malaluan and Prévot were Belgian Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova, EU-SCOPE project implementation leader Andreas Nordseth, and executives from Philippine Transmarine Carriers and the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training Inc.

Source: pna.gov.ph