Shipowners push lawmakers to fast-track ship registry bill, eye maritime revival

Shipowners push lawmakers to fast-track ship registry bill, eye maritime revival
Tony Chavez August 16, 2025 https://thechronicle.com.ph/shipowners-push-lawmakers-to-fast-track-ship...

The country’s maritime leaders are setting sail toward a common goal: the urgent passage of the Ship Registry Bill.

In a spirited show of unity at the Stakeholders’ Forum hosted by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on August 14, 2025, shipowners, charterers, ship managers, manning agencies, and other key players in the sector rallied behind the measure, calling on Congress to act without delay.

“This is the bill we’ve long dreamed of passing,” declared Dario Alampay Jr., Chairman and President of the Filipino Shipowners Association (FSA). “Once enacted, it will not only secure jobs for our seafarers but also strengthen the role of Philippine-flagged vessels in global trade. This is about reclaiming our rightful place in the international maritime arena.”

Alampay evoked the country’s golden age at sea, when the Philippines held sway as a maritime force in the 1950s and 1960s. He urged stakeholders to believe in a revival. “If Vietnam, a nation once devastated by war, can now command a strong maritime industry, why can’t we? We’ve done it before, and we can do it again—with MARINA at the helm.”

The Ship Registry Bill is seen as a cornerstone of industry reform. Advocates say it could breathe new life into the struggling sector, make the Philippines more competitive, and attract more vessels to proudly fly the national flag.

For shipowners and maritime workers alike, the message is urgent: the time to act is now.