According to data from ATPI Philippines, the demand for Filipino seafarers is on the rise, with an expected annual growth rate of 5% to 7% over the next year and a half. This growth is primarily being driven by the expansion of international shipping fleets and the recovery of the cruise and nearshore industries.

Ivette Arayulo, General Manager of ATPI Philippines, highlighted the significant growth in demand for Filipino seafarers in various sectors such as offshore energy projects, nearshore container transport services, and passenger vessels. She emphasized that emerging regional hubs play a crucial role in this trend.

Arayulo elaborated on how ATPI is adapting to these changes by investing in advanced technology, establishing strategic partnerships with shipping companies, and improving local infrastructure to better meet the growing demand.

According to the 2024 Seafarer Workforce Report released by the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO), approximately 1.89 million seafarers are currently working on international commercial vessels, including around 857,540 officers and over 1 million ratings, underscoring the fierce competitiveness in the global seafarer labor market.

Arayulo noted that changes in fleet deployment patterns are impacting the utilization of Filipino seafarers globally. She emphasized the need to integrate more digital solutions and optimize operational processes to effectively facilitate crew movements. The industry is also adapting to tighter crew rotation cycles while placing greater emphasis on the timeliness and safety of crew changes.

To strengthen collaboration with airlines and maritime agencies, it is essential to ensure sufficient flight capacity at critical transit points for emergency crew changes and enhance coordination between shipowners, crewing agencies, and travel partners. ATPI utilizes innovative platforms like CrewHub and CrewLink to manage various aspects of crew travel, ensuring smooth operations. Their Travel Tracking System (TTS) provides real-time location updates and risk alerts as part of their duty of care.

Arayulo mentioned that major regional hubs like Singapore, Dubai, and Doha require greater flexibility in crew planning and enhanced communication among all stakeholders. To address these challenges, ATPI offers real-time data solutions tailored to the needs of shipping operators.

Recently, ATPI expanded its operations in the Philippines by establishing a 24/7 World Support Center (WSC) in Manila to efficiently provide comprehensive maritime logistics services. The organization emphasized that the Philippines remains one of its most important sources of skilled seafarers, largely due to the country's abundance of English-speaking mariners who can be deployed globally at any time.