Marina urges stronger maritime cooperation amid Hormuz tensions

Rising geopolitical tensions in the Strait of Hormuz have prompted the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) to call for heightened cooperation among government agencies and private shipping stakeholders to manage maritime crises and protect Filipino seafarers.

Marina, through its Overseas Shipping Service, hosted the 2nd Philippine Shipping and Shipbuilding Expo and Conference as part of the Blue Economy Annual Trade and Conference 2026.

The conference centered on the theme “Navigating Uncertainty: Strengthening Maritime Cooperation in Addressing Crisis Situation.”

Gerico John Vincent Magbojos, chief of Marina’s Overseas Shipping Service Maritime Registry Division, stressed the urgency of joint action given ongoing security risks in international waters.

“We meet at a time when our industry has been reminded, in very real terms, of how much is at stake on the high seas and how many people depend on the institutions in this room working together,” Magbojos said.

Judy Honrado, chief of the agency’s Cooperation and Strategic Maritime Initiatives Division, noted that navigating maritime disruptions requires long-term planning and institutional trust.

“It takes foresight, trust, and discipline to act together even under uncertainty,” Honrado said. “This is precisely the spirit that BEACON and PHILSHIPCON 2026 seek to nurture and sustain.”

The conference covered key developments in the overseas shipping sector, inter-agency emergency protocols involving Marina, the Department of Migrant Workers, and the Department of Foreign Affairs, and private industry strategies for maintaining crew welfare during regional conflicts.