The Philippines and Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to mutual recognition of seafarer certificates to enhance maritime cooperation and trade. The agreement seeks to reduce administrative barriers and support shipping and logistics partnerships between the two nations.
On Friday, Australian Ambassador Marc Innes-Brown met with Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) administrator Sonia Malaluan in Manila to finalize the arrangement. The ambassador also announced Australia's formal endorsement of the Philippines-led Manila Declaration on Seafarers’ Human Rights, Safety and Well-being.
These developments follow the re-election of both countries to the International Maritime Organization Council, as they mark 80 years of bilateral relations this year. Innes-Brown stated, “This is not just about certificates – it is about people and prosperity. Almost 95 percent of Australia’s two-way goods trade with the Philippines is seaborne. In 2024 and 2025 respectively, Australia was visited 52 times by Philippines-flagged vessels – the highest number in the past five years.”
He added, “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.”
Malaluan noted that the agreement “reaffirms our commitment to maintaining a robust and internationally compliant system of training, assessment and certification for Filipino seafarers, consistent with global maritime expectations.”
In recent years, Australia has invested significantly in its trade and maritime links with the Philippines, promoting a shared vision for a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. In 2024, Australia established a permanent Australian Border Force presence in its Manila embassy to strengthen civil maritime, border enforcement and trade facilitation engagement with the Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of Customs. Australia is also partnering with the World Bank to support MARINA and the Philippine Department of Transportation in developing a roadmap to decarbonize inter-island ferry services, aligning with MARINA’s Maritime Industry Development Plan 2028.
