PH, Australia sign pact on mutual recognition of seafarer certificates

The Philippines and Australia on Friday signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of seafarer certificates, which will ensure continued employment of Filipino seafarers on Australian-flagged vessels and reduce administrative barriers.

Signed in Manila by Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Marc Innes-Brown and Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Sonia Malaluan, the pact also allows seamless shipping and trade logistics between the two maritime nations.

“This is not just about certificates, it is about people and prosperity,” said Innes-Brown, noting that almost 95% of Australia’s two-way goods trade with the Philippines is seaborne. 

In 2024 and 2025, he said Australia was visited 52 times by Philippine-flagged vessels, the highest number in the past five years.

 “For Australia, these measures mean smoother trade and more efficient maritime operations – supporting our ongoing ambitions under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040," Innes-Brown said. 

The new accord follows the successful re-election of both Australia and the Philippines to the International Maritime Organization Council and the 80th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties this year. 

Malaluan said the agreement will sustain global opportunities and competitiveness for Filipino seafarers. 

"For the Philippines, this memorandum reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a robust and internationally compliant system of training, assessment, and certification for Filipino seafarers, consistent with global maritime expectations,” she said.

The Philippines is one of the world’s largest providers of shipping manpower in the world.

A bulk of Filipino seamen or more than 20% of the world’s 1.2 million sailors are manning oil tankers, cargo ships, luxury liners, and passenger vessels worldwide.

Innes-Brown said Australia is also formally endorsing the Philippines-led 2025 Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety and Well-being that calls for urgent global action to ensure that the security and rights of all seafarers are protected.

"We’re working to support the rights and livelihoods of Filipino seafarers, reaffirming the Philippines’ indispensable role in global shipping as a leading supplier of skilled maritime labor," the envoy said.

“Together, Australia and the Philippines are building a partnership that keeps our economies moving and our seas connected,” he said. —AOL, GMA Integrated News