Local shipowners to government: Help solve severe crewing crisis

Local shipowners to government: Help solve severe crewing crisis
Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon - June 8, 2025 https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/cebu-news/2025/06/08/2449032/local-...

CEBU, Philippines — The severe crewing crisis affecting domestic ships was one of the key issues discussed during the general membership meeting of the Philippine Coastwise Shipping Association Inc. (PCSA).

Lucio Lim Jr., PCSA chairperson, expressed hope that the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) would be able to provide solutions to this problem.

Lim saidp some domestic vessels have been unable to operate or were put into drydock simply because they lack crew.

One major causes, Lim said is that many Filipino seafarers are now working on overseas ships.

Another shipowner lamented the lack of concrete action to address the ongoing manning crisis that has hit domestic shipping.

In fact, there have been instances where a captain had to be transferred from one port to another just so a vessel could set sail.

DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon was invited to the meeting but was unable to attend. Instead, Villamor Ventura S. Plan, Assistant Secretary for Maritime at the DOTr, represented the agency and promised to take action and relay the group's concerns to Secretary Dizon.

PCSA is the country’s largest shipping association comprised of Filipino ship owners that operate more than 700 ships serving thousands of passengers and transporting cargoes nationwide.

Lim, who is also the owner of Lite Shipping Corporation, admitted that the shortage of crew in domestic shipping has worsened due to the exodus of Filipino seafarers to international vessels.

The group partly blamed the Marina and its guidelines for crew onboarding, which they claimed favor international seafaring over the local industry.

For Lim and other shipowners, experience matters more than simply being a nautical course graduate.

Some PCSA members also urged the DOTr to provide genuine and concrete solutions to the crisis, rather than offering mere words.

Several key issues confronting the local shipping and seafaring industry in the country were discussed, such as:

Safe Manning (severe crewing crisis affecting domestic ships/cadetship program for vessels below 500GT/750kW).

Blockchain - enabled automated certification system (BEST).

Revision of the Implementing rules and regulations of Republic Act 9295 regarding summary procedures for the issuance of certificate of public convenience (CPC).

Revision of Marina Circular 112 (ticket refunds), in coordination with the Philippine Coast Guard.

Enforcement of MAP and other maritime regulations. — (FREEMAN)