Demand for Filipino seafarers prompts Marino Expo

The growing international demand for Filipino seafarers is prompting organizers of the Marino World Manning Expo & Conference (MWMEC) 2026 to expand the event’s exhibition capacity, moving it to a larger venue to accommodate increased industry participation.

The three-day maritime gathering, originally scheduled for September 23-25, has been rescheduled to November 26-28 at the World Trade Center Metro Manila (WTCMM), where it will occupy Main Hall A, a 2,776-square-meter exhibition space.

The venue change reflects the organizers’ decision to scale up the event’s recruitment and exhibition facilities amid sustained demand for qualified Filipino maritime professionals and growing interest from shipping companies, manning agencies and other industry players seeking access to the country’s seafaring workforce.

By providing a larger platform, MWMEC aims to expand opportunities for direct engagement between Filipino seafarers and prospective employers, while allowing participating companies to strengthen their recruitment campaigns and showcase employment opportunities.

The additional preparation period following the postponement will also give exhibitors more time to develop recruitment programs, exhibitions and industry engagement activities, organizers said.

The expo is designed to connect Filipino maritime professionals with international shipping companies and recruitment agencies, offering direct access to potential employers, career opportunities and professional development resources.

Beyond employment matching, the conference will tackle regulatory, operational and technological developments shaping the global maritime industry.

Discussions will cover the new sea-based standard employment contract, the Magna Carta of Filipino Seafarers, geopolitical tensions, maritime decarbonization, cybersecurity and digitalization.

The program will also include seminars on seafarer welfare, business and personal finance, as well as the return of Voice of the Seafarers, a singing competition that adds a cultural dimension to the industry gathering.

MWMEC 2026 has secured the participation of 69 companies and organizations, including 14 manning agencies accredited by the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW).

The participating agencies are Pacific Ocean Manning, North Sea Marine Services, Kestrel Shipping Inc., Augustea Ship Manning Philippines Inc., Elburg Shipmanagement Philippines Inc., Maersk Filipinas Crewing Inc., Multinational Ship Management Inc., Avior Marine Inc., Torm Shipping Philippines Inc., Ionic Manila Manning Inc., Senator Crewing Manila Inc., Albireo Maritime People & Performance Inc., Virtue Maritime Services Corp. and Tiwala Human Resource Inc.

Other industry participants include Philippine Transmarine Carriers Inc., Jebsen PTC, Seaspan-PTC and Intercrew Philippines Agency Inc.

The expanded exhibition space is expected to provide greater capacity for recruitment agencies and maritime service providers, potentially widening the range of employment opportunities and industry services available to attendees.

Organizers are positioning the event as an integrated platform for recruitment, policy dialogue, business networking and professional development, bringing together maritime workers and the companies competing for their skills.

Admission to the exhibition, conference and activity areas will remain free. However, registrations made using previously issued QR codes will no longer be valid. Prospective attendees must register again through the updated registration link provided by Marino World.