The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), Lloyd’s Register OneOcean (LROO) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Republic of the Philippines Department of Transportation, signed a landmark joint Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU outlines the collaboration on a pilot project to explore the integration of seafarer certification systems and to develop a new mobile application.

Signed at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Headquarters in London, the initiative aims to reduce administrative burdens associated with paper-based seafarer endorsement and verification, while ensuring efficiency for key stakeholders in the industry, including flag Administrations, Port State Control, seafarers and shipping and ship management companies.

As the industry moves towards digital solutions to maximise safety and efficiency, this pilot will assess potential pathways for digitising certification processes with a focus on security, streamlined collaboration and ease of use. Paper certificates continue to dominate the industry despite seafarer documentation requiring regular renewal, with differing requirements and processes between countries. This can cause challenges such as increased risk of errors and vulnerabilities, and longer delays.

International Chamber of Shipping Secretary General Guy Platten commented: “At the International Chamber of Shipping we are excited to be moving forward with this pilot project. The world is changing and in support of the digital transition we believe this is the imperative next step to support the entire sector with a new solution that will not only minimise administrative burden but maximise efficiency for a safe and sustainable industry.

The Philippines is the world’s largest provider of seafarers and working together with MARINA is key to this pilot project. We look forward to collaborating with Lloyd’s Register OneOcean and MARINA in making this a success.”

Lloyd’s Register OneOcean Co-CEO & CPTO Nicholas Goubert stated: “LR has an established role in maritime compliance and safety. Through LR OneOcean, we are now applying our expertise to explore how digital solutions can streamline certification, making processes more efficient for seafarers, flag administrations, and the wider industry. Working alongside ICS and MARINA on this pilot project is an exciting opportunity to bring together different perspectives and expertise to explore a digital certification approach that could benefit the entire maritime sector, improving accessibility, security, and regulatory compliance in a meaningful way.”

MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan emphasized the Agency’s commitment to embracing digital innovations that enhance efficiency and security in seafarer certification. “The pilot project marks a significant step in providing a global platform for a streamlined and seamless certification process for the Filipino seafarers. This collaboration reinforces the Philippines’ commitment to aligning with global maritime standards and moving towards digital transformation in the maritime industry.”

The purpose of this pilot is to test the feasibility of a system where all seafarer certificates can be securely stored and consolidated, allowing real-time access for all key stakeholders. This will also allow seafarers to take ownership of their data and control how it is used, with the system facilitating travel and movement for the benefit of the entire industry.

Significantly, the objectives of this collaboration align with recent amendments to the STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) code that came into effect on the 1 January 2025, supporting the maritime industry’s transition to digital certification.

The new MOU sets out the collaboration between the three parties on the pilot project to evaluate the technical and regulatory framework needed for a global digital certification system. ICS, LROO and MARINA will develop an initial API (Application Programming Interface) integration concept to explore linking MARINA’s Integrated Seafarers Management Online System (MISMO) to the pilot platform.

Upon successful validation of the concept, MARINA will engage with its seafarer community—approximately 400,000 Filipino seafarers—to gather insights on digital certification needs and potential adoption pathways.