Marina and NMA expand maritime partnership

Marina and NMA expand maritime partnership
Genivi Verdejo April 29, 2026 https://www.manilatimes.net/2026/04/29/business/maritime/marina-and-nma-...

THE Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) and the Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) are expanding cooperation to improve maritime safety, digitalization and environmental sustainability.

Marina and NMA reaffirmed their partnership during a bilateral meeting on April 17 in Manila. Administrator Sonia Malaluan, NMA Director General Alf Tore Sørheim and Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster discussed the technical assistance and data-driven safety protocols. Both sides agreed to share best practices for implementing risk-based ship inspection systems.

On decarbonization, the two nations are exploring the electrification of short-distance domestic shipping. This initiative aligns with global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The project focuses on adapting green technology to the Philippine fleet to meet international environmental standards.

Digitalization efforts center on the mutual recognition of seafarer certifications. Marina is pursuing system integration through an application programming interface (API) to link Norwegian databases with the Marina Integrated Seafarers Management Online (Mismo) system. This technical link aims to streamline the deployment of Filipino seafarers.

The partnership includes knowledge-sharing to enhance seafarer competency and well-being. Capacity-building initiatives are designed to align workforce skills with evolving international requirements. These programs focus on maintaining the standards necessary for global maritime operations.

The collaboration also covers technical assistance for maritime incident analysis. By adopting more analytical oversight, the agencies aim to improve safety outcomes through shared data. This cooperation intends to modernize the regulatory framework for both domestic and international shipping.

Officials stated the discussions will lead to concrete programs and sustained cooperation. Both agencies committed to translating these bilateral priorities into operational standards.