The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is advancing the Philippines’ commitment to maritime safety and environmental protection by its recent hosting of the National Workshop on the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Civil Liability and Compensation Conventions. Held in collaboration with the IMO, the workshop was conducted January 27 to 31, 2025, in Pasay City.
The event highlights MARINA’s leadership in aligning the country’s maritime regulatory framework with international standards. Representatives from key government agencies gathered to discuss the implications of IMO liability and compensation conventions and explore the potential ratification or accession by the Philippines.
Topics covered include the Civil Liability Convention (CLC)/Fund regime, the 1996/2010 HNS Convention, the 2001 Bunkers Convention, the 1976/1996 Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (LLMC) Convention, the 2007 Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention, the 1974/2002 Athens Convention, and the 1989 Salvage Convention.
MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan welcomed international experts Jan Engel de Boer from the IMO, Sheridan Steiger from the International Group of Protection and Indemnity Associations (P&I Clubs), and Gaute Sivertsen and Gillian Grant from the International Oil Pollution Compensation Funds (IOPCF).
Administrator Malaluan underscored MARINA’s commitment to fostering collaboration among stakeholders, encouraging lawyers, policymakers, and legislative drafters to actively engage in discussions. She emphasized the importance of aligning the country’s maritime legislation with global standards to ensure safety, sustainability, and protection of marine environments.
Jan Engel De Boer, senior legal officer of IMO, lauded MARINA for its proactive efforts in hosting the workshop. He highlighted that the event will equip participants with essential knowledge for drafting national maritime legislation, including any challenge in implementing IMO Instruments.
The workshop was attended by representatives from the Department of Transportation, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Justice, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Ports Authority, Cebu Port Authority, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority and MARINA.
Through this initiative, MARINA continues to demonstrate its pivotal role in driving the Philippines’ maritime agenda forward. By fostering collaboration and capacity-building, the agency reaffirms its commitment to promoting maritime safety, protecting the marine environment, and enhancing the nation’s maritime legislative framework.