The Philippines has retained its place on the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) “White List,” reaffirming the country’s compliance with global standards for maritime education and training.

The IMO, a specialized agency of the United Nations that regulates international shipping, maintains the STCW White List of countries that fully comply with the convention’s standards on the education, training, certification and competence of seafarers.

Being on the White List allows certificates issued by the Philippines to be recognized by other IMO member-states, enabling Filipino seafarers to work aboard foreign-going vessels without facing additional certification requirements.

The status also reinforces the country’s standing as one of the world’s leading suppliers of maritime professionals.

The recognition comes after months of heightened risks for thousands of Filipino seafarers deployed in the Middle East.

Amid the US-Iran conflict, the government is closely monitoring Filipino crews transiting the Strait of Hormuz and coordinated with shipping companies and foreign governments to ensure their safety.

The Department of Migrant Workers also extended legal and welfare assistance to the family of a Filipino seafarer involved in a maritime incident in the Strait of Hormuz, while maintaining close coordination with manning agencies amid continuing security concerns in the Persian Gulf.

The recognition confirms that the Philippines continues to meet international requirements for the education, training, assessment, certification and oversight of Filipino seafarers under the STCW Convention.

Maritime Industry Authority Administrator Sonia B. Malaluan welcomed the development, saying the country’s continued inclusion on the White List reflects the strength of the Philippine maritime education and training system.