Manila — The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) honored Friday Marine Engineer John Robert Macinas Maraño for bagging the 2023 grand prize of the global photo competition of the International Federation Transport (ITF) Seafarers’ Trust Prize Photography Competition.

Administrator Sonia B Malaluan commended Maraño for his achievement during the latter’s courtesy call on the MARINA Chief. “Congratulations and thank you for bringing pride and honor to the country and for demonstrating the finest talent of a Filipino seafarer”.

Maraño bagged the grand prize through his entry, “12 Degrees”. According to the ITF-Seafarers’ Trust website, “the image, featuring a ship’s inclinometer, earned acclaim from judge Paddy Rodgers, who highlighted the photographer’s expertise in capturing the dynamic challenges confronted by seafarers”. He gifted the MARINA official with a copy of his winning photo.

During her conversation with Maraño, Administrator Malaluan sought support for more nominations from Filipino seafarers for the annual search of the IMO’s Award for Bravery at Sea.

She likewise conveyed her broad plans for the upskilling and reskilling of Filipino seafarers in the light of challenges brought about by the implementation of targets for zero or near zero green house gas emission from ships, commercialization of maritime autonomous surface ships and artificial intelligence, among others.

The MARINA Chief also bared her immediate plan to hold dialogues with active seafarers so she would be able to listen to their concerns and undertake appropriate measures to address them and to engage with industry for their inputs to the on-going comprehensive review of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers 1978, as amended.

See more photos here.