The Future of Seafarer Certification: A Step Towards Digital Verification

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the UK-based Lloyd’s Register OneOcean (LROO) and the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Philippines’ Department of Transportation are set to explore the integration of seafarer certification systems to foster “seamless” digital verification.

As disclosed, this ‘historic’ tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on February 12, 2025, at the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) headquarters in London.

According to the ICS, the overall aim behind this endeavor is to minimize administrative burdens associated with paper-based seafarer endorsement and verification—which continue to dominate the industry despite the document’s need for regular renewal—while ensuring efficiency for ‘key industry stakeholders’, such as flag administrations, port state control, seafarers as well as ship owners and managers.

More specifically, the purpose of the pilot will be to evaluate the viability of a global digital system where all seafarer certificates can be stored and consolidated ‘safely’, and enable real-time access for all stakeholders, the ICS has explained. Seafarers will reportedly own their data and control how it is used.

Under the terms of the MoU, the ICS, LROO and MARINA will embark on a mission to develop an initial API (application programming interface) integration concept to test if MARINA’s Integrated Seafarers Management Online System (MISMO) can be linked to the pilot platform.

Should the concept be validated successfully, the ICS explained that MARINA would engage with around 400,000 Filipino seafarers to collect insights on digital certification needs and potential adoption pathways.

“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 minimize administrative burden but maximize efficiency for a safe and sustainable industry,” ICS Secretary General Guy Platten commented.

“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 and CPTO Nicholas Goubert added: “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.“

Sharing her thoughts about the recent development, MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan further highlighted: “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.”

As informed, the objectives of the collaboration are in line with the recent amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) code focused on supporting the maritime industry’s transition to digital certification, which entered force January 1, 2025.

With the pressure to decarbonize shipping continuing to balloon, advancements in green technology and digitalization efforts have followed, threatening to leave those unprepared for the challenges of the new era in the dust.

June 2023 data from the Norway-based classification society DNV showed an alarming 81% of workers did not possess the knowledge or skills to deal with new technology. Finnish technology giant Wärtsilä found that same year that a considerable number of seafarers (45%) had a ‘volatile’ attitude toward the adoption of new ‘advanced’ solutions.

All things considered, there is no shadow of a doubt that shipping is in need of more workers trained in digital solutions, the ICS has said, especially with the fact that a lack of digital processes could ‘greatly’ hinder the climate neutrality targets set for (by or around) 2050.

To address the challenges of shipping digitalization, the European Community Shipowners’ Associations (ECSA) and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF) launched the ‘Seafarers Go Digital’ platform in July 2024.

As elaborated, through this initiative, the ETF and ECSA emphasized the need to adapt international regulations, training programs and operational practices so that digital tools can be adopted while employment rights and the well-being of workers are kept safe.

On the other side of the story, just half a year before that, a training project to prepare seafarers for ‘modern’, zero or near-zero-emission ships was launched. It was funded through the IMO and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, while the IMO and the Maritime Just Transition Task Force Secretariat were sat at the helm of the project itself.