UMTC launches 'Green Energy Center' to train Filipino seafarers for zero-emission shipping

UMTC launches 'Green Energy Center' to train Filipino seafarers for zero-emission shipping
Carmela I. Huelar August 18, 2026 https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/08/18/business/maritime/umtc-launches-g...

MANILA, Philippines — United Marine Training Center (UMTC) held a groundbreaking ceremony Monday, August 17, to launch construction of its state-of-the-art Green Energy Center, a facility designed to prepare Filipino seafarers for the maritime industry's transition to alternative fuels and zero-emission vessels.

​UMTC President Antonio Galvez led the ceremony alongside Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan, MARINA Acting Deputy Administrator for Education, Training, and Certification Presca Lee B. Lugo, and STCW Office Executive Director Samuel L. Batalla. Key international partners in attendance included Robert van der Hum, Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Julian Lopez, Managing Director of Green Marine Asia.

​The center addresses an urgent global need: as shipowners deploy low- and zero-carbon vessels to meet decarbonization targets, maritime crews must be equipped with specialized credentials to operate new technologies safely. Beyond crew instruction, the facility will serve as a collaborative platform for innovation, research, and knowledge-sharing across government agencies, training institutes, and technology providers.

"We are not simply constructing a building. We are building competence, safety, innovation, and sustainability," said UMTC President Antonio Galvez. "Through practical exercises and realistic scenarios, Filipino seafarers will develop the confidence to respond effectively, protect lives, safeguard vessels, protect the environment, and prevent incidents from becoming disasters."

MARINA Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan emphasized the center's role in maintaining the nation's global competitive advantage as decarbonization and automation reshape maritime operations.

​"This initiative helps lay the foundation for the skills and capabilities the maritime industry will need in the years ahead," Malaluan said. "Practical, immersive training using actual shipboard systems bridges the gap between classroom learning and real-world application, giving our maritime professionals the confidence needed to operate new technologies safely and keeping Filipino seafarers future-ready."

The facility will deliver MARINA-accredited basic and advanced training under the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code).

Practical, scenario-based instruction will cover:

• ​Alternative Fuel Bunkering & Storage- Safe handling, transfer, and storage of low-flashpoint fuels, including LNG, methanol, and ethanol.
• ​Specialized Emergency Response- Tactical firefighting and containment drills tailored to toxicity, fire, and explosion hazards unique to green fuels.
• Future Fleet & Autonomous Systems- Operational management for dual-fuel machinery and adaptation to emerging shipboard automatin technologies.

Development will proceed immediately. Course completion timelines, accreditation milestones, and enrollment information will be announced as construction progresses.