To further strengthen the country’s collaborative mechanisms with international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Republic of Korea (RoK) for a safe, advanced, and sustainable maritime sector, the Philippines, through the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), commits to participate in the Sustainable Maritime Transport Cooperation (SMART-C) Programme during the inception meeting held at the MARINA Building, Port Area, Manila on 28 February 2024.

As defined by the IMO, the SMART-C Programme aims to promote sustainable maritime transport systems and the marine environment through knowledge-building and technical capacity in developing countries via long-term projects. The SMART-C Programme is composed of various projects, with the Philippines being one of the beneficiary countries: a) SMART-C Women Project; b) SMART-C Traffic Project; and c) SMART-C GHG Project.

The SMART-C Women Project aims to contribute to gender equality by increasing employment opportunities for women in the maritime sector in developing countries and providing training to help women advance their careers in related industries. The SMART-C GHG Project, on the other hand, is intended to support developing countries in decarbonizing the shipping sector by establishing a management and analysis system for GHG emission data from ships. Lastly, the SMART-C Traffic Project aims to develop, operate, and pilot an e-navigation service that can efficiently analyze and manage maritime safety information in an internet-based environment.

MARINA Administrator Ms. Sonia B. Malaluan welcomed the delegates from the IMO and RoK and expressed appreciation for extending their assistance to the Philippines through the SMART-C Programme.

Furthermore, Administrator Malaluan conveyed the country’s best practices and cooperation projects with other government agencies regarding maritime safety, marine environment protection, sustainability, and technological innovation in the maritime sector.

Mr. Youngso Kim, Deputy Director of the Subdivision for Partnerships and Projects, Technical Cooperation and Implementation Division of the IMO, provided an overview of the SMART-C Programme, as well as the initial developments and actions undertaken by the IMO. He likewise shared how the Philippines may benefit from the projects under the SMART-C Programme.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lee Chikyoung, Deputy Director of the Maritime Industry and Technology Division, Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries of the RoK, Mr. Nam Heechae, Assistant Director of the Maritime Safety Policy Division, Ministry of Ocean and Fisheries of RoK, and Ms. Da-young Park, Researcher from the Korea Maritime Cooperation Center, discussed the roles and actions taken by the Republic of Korea for the realization of the SMART-C Programme.

The inception meeting on the SMART-C Programme was attended by representatives from MARINA, the Philippine Coast Guard, the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA), and the Women in Maritime Association Asia (WIMA Asia).

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