APEC Project Database

Project Title

Comprehensive Study on the Impact of International Maritime Regulatory Instruments on Maritime Workforce of the APEC Region: Policy Options forMaritime Administrations

Project Year

2025

Project Number

TPTWG_201_2025

Project Session

Session 2

Project Type

Standard

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Project No.

TPTWG_201_2025

Project Title

Comprehensive Study on the Impact of International Maritime Regulatory Instruments on Maritime Workforce of the APEC Region: Policy Options forMaritime Administrations

Project Status

Project in Implementation

Fund Account

General Project Account

Sub-fund

None

Project Year

2025

Project Session

Session 2

APEC Funding

128,424

Co-funding Amount

20,000

Total Project Value

148,424

Sponsoring Forum

Transportation Working Group (TPTWG)

Topics

Human Resources Development; Trade Facilitation

Committee

SOM Steering Committee on Economic and Technical Cooperation (SCE)

Other Fora Involved

Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved

Proposing Economy(ies)

Philippines

Co-Sponsoring Economies

Canada; Korea; Malaysia; Chinese Taipei; Viet Nam

Expected Start Date

01/07/2026

Expected Completion Date

30/06/2027

Project Proponent Name 1

Sonia B Malaluan

Job Title 1

Administrator/Director-General

Organization 1

Maritime Industry, Authority, Philippines

Telephone 1

+63285239078

Email 1

ludelossantos@marina.gov.ph

Project Proponent Name 2

Luisito U delos Santos

Job Title 2

Director II

Organization 2

Maritime Industry, Authority, Philippines

Telephone 2

+63-9176279606

Email 2

oadm@marina.gov.ph

Declaration

Sonia B Malaluan

Project Summary

This project will assess the impact of international maritime regulatory instruments— particularly those from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO)—on the maritime workforce in APEC economies. As global standards on safety, labor rights, environmental sustainability, and digitalization evolve, seafarers face increasing pressures related to compliance, training, and welfare.

To address these challenges, the project will analyze regulatory effects and propose non-binding policy options to strengthen workforce resilience and regulatory alignment. From October 2026 to March 2027, activities will include development of frameworks, desk research, surveys, and in-person or virtual focus group discussions on voluntary basis from interested labor supplying economies. A Policy Dialogue in Manila, envisioned to be held in March 2027, will validate findings and inform recommendations.

Led by the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) of the Philippines, and in collaboration with APEC stakeholders, the project will deliver a comprehensive report, best practice briefs, and a practical policy toolkit to support evidence-based, and regionally coherent maritime labor governance for interested Member Economies.

Relevance

Region

This project seeks to address the growing disconnect between the implementation of international maritime regulatory instruments and their unintended impacts on seafarers across APEC member economies. While global conventions such as the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW); Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and Marine Pollution (MARPOL), aim to ensure safety, resilience, and labor rights, their operationalization often places additional burdens on seafarers due to increased training requirements, administrative tasks, and insufficient institutional support. The project responds to the need for policy alignment that protects maritime workers while maintaining regulatory compliance. It will offer sustained, long-term benefits to multiple economies by fostering policy coherence, improving institutional readiness, and supporting workforce resilience. As APEC includes both labor-supplying and flag states, the project’s findings and recommendations will support collective efforts to harmonize labor practices, promote fair treatment of seafarers, and enhance the competitiveness of the region’s maritime workforce.

Eligibility and Fund Priorities

This project strongly supports the APEC Putrajaya Vision 2040, which underscores inclusive economic participation, resilient and sustainable growth, and people- centered development. By examining how international maritime regulatory instruments—such as conventions, codes, and standards—impact the skills, employment, and welfare of seafarers and other maritime professionals, the project contributes to APEC’s commitment to strengthening economic and social inclusion across member economies. The study will generate data-driven insights to inform policies that safeguard workforce resilience while ensuring compliance with evolving global regulations. Aligned with APEC’s priority to foster regional trade and investment, the project aims to sustain the Asia-Pacific’s position as the world’s most dynamic and interconnected economic region. By identifying policy options that reduce unintended barriers stemming from regulatory misalignment, the project will help create a more predictable and transparent operating environment for maritime transport services. This outcome is essential for maintaining open and efficient shipping lanes, which are critical to the flow of goods and the competitiveness of regional industries.

Furthermore, the project responds to APEC’s objectives on connectivity and supply chains by promoting more seamless maritime linkages across economies. It will assess how current international rules affect workforce availability as well as the resilience of supply chains. In doing so, it supports efforts to build adaptive maritime systems capable of withstanding shocks and disruptions, while fostering responsible business conduct and shared commitments to fair labor practices and resource management.

Overall, this initiative will enable member economies to modernize their maritime workforce policies in ways that balance regulatory compliance with economic growth and social well-being. The resulting recommendations will empower maritime administrations to harmonize domestic strategies with international norms while enhancing capacity-building opportunities for developing economies. In line with APEC’s broader vision, this project aims to ensure that the benefits of trade, connectivity, and sustainable development are shared across the region’s maritime communities.

Capacity Building

This project will significantly strengthen the institutional and technical capacity of APEC member economies—particularly developing economies that supply huge number of maritime workforce in the global seaborne trade - by enabling them to better understand, assess, and respond to the human impact of international maritime regulatory instruments on seafarers. These economies are among the largest suppliers of maritime labor globally and often face structural and resource challenges in aligning domestic policies and practices with evolving international standards set by the IMO and ILO.

By engaging maritime authorities, seafarer welfare institutions, training centers, and industry stakeholders in structured research activities, multi-stakeholder consultations, and an APEC Policy Dialogue in Manila, the project will promote shared learning and collaboration across economies.

Objectives

The objective of this project is to enhance the capacity of APEC member economies to assess and respond to the human impact of international maritime regulatory instruments on seafarers. By generating evidence-based policy options the project seeks to strengthen seafarer welfare, training systems, and regional cooperation across the APEC region.

Alignment

Beneficiaries and Outputs

Output

1) Research Work and Report

This output consists of a comprehensive research study that will examine current and emerging challenges, opportunities, and policy responses relating to maritime workforce resilience across APEC member economies. The research will employ a mixed-methods approach, including a literature review, policy and regulatory analysis, administration of a survey questionnaire, and, on voluntary basis, collection of economy case studies and good practices. The study will identify workforce trends, competency gaps, technological disruptions, demographic challenges, and strategies adopted by member economies to enhance maritime workforce resilience. The findings will be synthesized into a research report of approximately minimum 40 pages, excluding annexes, comprising an Executive Summary methodology, analytical findings, comparative assessment, case studies, conclusions, and preliminary policy recommendations. This report will serve as the principal technical reference for the Policy Dialogue and the basis for developing the Final Analytic Report.

2) Policy Dialogue

This output consists of a two-day APEC Policy Dialogue that will convene approximately 60–80 participants from APEC member economies, including government officials, maritime administrations, labor and education authorities, industry representatives, academic institutions, international organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. The dialogue will provide a platform to present the research findings, exchange experiences and best practices, discuss common policy challenges, and identify collaborative approaches for strengthening maritime workforce resilience.

For the programme, the dialogue will feature the following APEC Policy Dialogue on Maritime Workforce

Manila, Philippines

Theme: Impact of International Regulatory Instruments on the Maritime Workforce in the APEC Region

[Topics subject to vetting/revision]

Day 1 – International Regulatory Landscape and Workforce Implications TimeTopicFormat

9:00 – 9:30Opening Ceremony and Keynote Address

Opening

9:30 – 10:30Global Maritime Regulatory Landscape: Emerging International Instruments Affecting the Maritime WorkforcePresentation + Open Forum

10:30 – 11:30The Human Element in International Maritime Regulation: Developing Competent, Safe, and Resilient SeafarersPresentation + Open Forum

11:30 – 12:00Open Forum: Harmonizing Workforce Standards Across APEC EconomiesInteractive Discussion

12:00 – 2:00Lunch Break

2:00 – 3:00 The Green Shipping Transition: Workforce Challenges and Opportunities under Emerging International RegulationsPresentation + Open Forum

3:00 – 4:00 Digitalization, Autonomous Shipping, and Artificial Intelligence: Regulatory Implications for Maritime CompetenciesPanel Discussion + Open Forum

4:00 – 5:006.Human Element Regulations: Fatigue, Mental Health, Well- being, and Safe Manning under International StandardsPanel + Open Forum

Day 2 – Regional Responses and Future Directions

9:00 – 10:00Ensuring Quality Maritime Education and Training under International Quality Assurance FrameworksPresentation + Open Forum

10:00 – 11:00Recognition of Maritime Qualifications and Facilitating Workforce Mobility within the APEC RegionPresentation + Open Forum

11:00 – 12:00Emerging IMO and ILO Regulatory Developments: Anticipating Future Workforce RequirementsPresentation + Open Forum

12:00 – 2:00Lunch Break

2:00 – 3:00Government Perspectives: National Responses to International Regulatory ChangesEconomy Presentations + Open Forum

3:00 – 4:00Industry Perspectives: Shipping Companies, Manning Agencies, and Maritime Training Institutions Responding to Regulatory ChangePanel Discussion + Open Forum

4:00 – 4:30Roundtable Discussion: Opportunities for APEC Cooperation on Maritime Workforce DevelopmentInteractive Dialogue

4:30 – 5:00Policy Options for APEC Economies and Closing Session

3) Final Analytical Report (APEC Publication)

This output is a substantive APEC publication that consolidates the results of the research and the Policy Dialogue into a comprehensive analytical report of minimum 50 pages, excluding annexes. The report will incorporate validated research findings, comparative analysis across member economies, policy insights generated during the dialogue, identified best practices, emerging trends, and recommendations for enhancing maritime workforce resilience within the APEC region. The report will include an Executive Summary, background, research methodology, analytical findings, discussion of policy implications, case studies, recommendations, and proposed areas for future regional collaboration. Prepared in accordance with APEC publication standards, the Final Analytic Report will serve as a long-term knowledge resource to support evidence-based policymaking, capacity building, and future initiatives under the relevant APEC fora.

Outcome

1) Enhanced Capacity of APEC Economies to Assess Human Impacts of Maritime Regulations: Through targeted research, voluntary stakeholder participation, open-source data gathering, and knowledge-sharing activities, APEC economies—particularly developing, labor-supplying, and maritime-dependent member economies—will strengthen their capacity to assess and understand the effects of international maritime regulatory instruments on seafarers and other maritime professionals. By providing evidence-based analysis, comparative experiences, and policy insights, the project will enhance the ability of policymakers, maritime administrations, industry stakeholders, and workforce representatives to evaluate the implications of key international instruments, identify implementation challenges and workforce impacts, and develop informed, balanced, and people-centered policy responses that promote regulatory compliance, seafarer welfare, and the long-term sustainability of the maritime workforce.

2) Improved Policy Coherence and Alignment with International Standards: The study’s comparative analysis and menu of policy options will enable economies to align domestic laws and administrative processes with international maritime conventions more effectively. By providing a region-wide overview of best practices, regulatory challenges, and institutional readiness, the project will encourage policy harmonization and promote fair, predictable, and transparent regulatory environments across APEC. This outcome supports the Transportation Working Group’s (TPTWG) goal of safer, more efficient, and resilient maritime transport.

3) Strengthened Evidence Base for Maritime Workforce Governance: Validated data,statistics, and policy mapping gathered through the project will serve as the region’s first comprehensive evidence base on the human impact of international maritime instruments.

These findings will guide national policy reviews, inform future APEC and IMO discussions, and support evidence- driven workforce planning. The outcome ensures that future maritime reforms within APEC are informed by consistent and comparable data.

4) Strengthened Cross-Fora and Multilateral Collaboration: By engaging the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG), Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG), the project will create sustained linkages between maritime governance, and workforce development. The outcome will institutionalize a cooperative platform for sharing lessons, monitoring uptake of policy options, and supporting cross-regional dialogue on maritime labor resilience.

5) Sustained Uptake and Utilization of Project Outputs after Completion: Member economies will apply the project’s policy toolkit, analytical report, and recommendations to strengthen their own maritime workforce policies. The results will inform follow-on APEC initiatives, technical cooperation projects, and policy reforms.

Beneficiaries

Participants and beneficiaries will be selected based on their roles in maritime labor regulation, training, welfare, operations, and advocacy, with priority given to stakeholders from economies with active seafaring sectors or ongoing regulatory alignment efforts.

Primary beneficiaries include policy makers, maritime educators, seafarers and labor groups, shipping industry stakeholders, and researchers.

Engagement will be conducted through surveys, FGDs, interviews, regional consultations and policy dialogues ensuring diverse institutional and regional representation. Project outputs will be tailored to meet the needs of both policymakers and practitioners for practical application and institutional capacity building.

Secondary beneficiaries are those individuals may not attend the project yet benefit from the project impact.

Dissemination

The project’s results and outputs will be disseminated widely to ensure their accessibility, practical application, and long-term impact. A primary output will be a comprehensive Final Analytical Report containing the study findings, survey results, comparative analysis of international regulatory instruments, and a “Menu of Policy Options by Timeline” (short-term, medium-term, and long-term). This report will be published in electronic format (PDF) and uploaded to the APEC Publications Database, ensuring open access to all economies and stakeholders. A concise Executive Summary and Policy Brief (10 pages) will also be prepared, highlighting key findings and policy recommendations in a format suitable for decision-makers.

In addition to written reports, the project will produce knowledge products such as infographics, case study highlights, and a compendium of good practices, which will be shared electronically through APEC channels and, where appropriate, via member economies’ maritime administration websites and partner institutions. To support active dissemination, the findings will also be presented at the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) meetings, and cross-fora briefings will be arranged with the HumanResources Development Working Group (HRDWG) and other relevant APEC fora to maximize reach and relevance.

The target audience will include policymakers, regulators, and senior officials from transport, labor, and education ministries across APEC economies; maritime education and training institutions (METIs); seafarer unions and associations; shipowners and maritime industry associations; and international organizations such as the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and International Labour Organization (ILO). Gender considerations will be observed by ensuring that dissemination materials highlight the impact of regulatory frameworks on both male and female seafarers, as well as promote the maritime workforce.

There is no intention to sell any outputs arising from this project. All publications will be freely accessible in electronic format through APEC’s knowledge-sharing platforms. This approach supports APEC’s commitment to inclusiveness, transparency, and equitable access to knowledge products, ensuring that both developed and developing economies are able to use the outputs to inform policy reforms and workforce strategies.

Gender

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Work Plan

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Risks

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Monitoring and Evaluation

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Linkages

Engagement. The project will actively engage other APEC fora and relevant organizations to maximize synergies and ensure broad relevance. Within APEC, the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) will serve as the lead forum, while the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG) will be engaged to align outputs with skills development, training, and labor mobility priorities. Cross-fora sharing with the Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE) will ensure that gender considerations are fully integrated, particularly in advancing women’s economic participation in the maritime workforce. Outside APEC, the project will coordinate with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Labour Organization (ILO), both of which set global standards affecting seafarers.

Engagement with industry groups, maritime education and training institutions (METIs), and seafarer unions will ensure that findings reflect practical realities and stakeholder needs.

Previous Work. This project builds on and complements previous APEC initiatives on transport, human resources development, and women’s economic empowerment, while avoiding duplication. Earlier TPTWG and HRDWG projects have addressed transport connectivity, skills development, and inclusiveness, but none has conducted a comprehensive analysis of the impact of international maritime regulatory instruments on the seafaring workforce. By focusing on this specific gap, the project will generate new evidence, highlight cross-cutting policy implications, and provide economies with actionable policy options. The project will also draw on relevant studies by the IMO, ILO, and the World Maritime University (WMU), but will frame its outputs in a distinctly APEC context that emphasizes regional cooperation, best practice sharing, and practical policy reform pathways.

APEC’s Comparative Advantage. APEC is uniquely positioned to undertake this initiative because its economies collectively supply the majority of the world’s seafarers and are home to leading maritime training and certification institutions. The diversity of APEC economies—ranging from major labor-supplying to shipowning and flag States—provides a balanced platform to analyze workforce challenges and regulatory impacts from multiple perspectives. APEC’s emphasis on voluntary, non- binding cooperation and knowledge-sharing makes it the most effective venue for developing a “Menu of Policy Options” that member economies can adopt or adapt based on their domestic contexts. Funding through APEC ensures that outputs are regionally owned, widely disseminated, and aligned with APEC’s broader agenda on inclusive growth, human capital development, and sustainable transport.

Sustainability

The impact of the project will continue beyond the completion of APEC funding through the sustained use and application of its outputs by economies, institutions, and stakeholders. The Final Report, Executive Summary, will serve as enduring references for policymakers, regulators, and maritime training institutions.

Beneficiaries will be supported to carry forward the results through knowledge products that are freely accessible via the APEC Publications Database, as well as through follow-up engagement at TPTWG and HRDWG meetings. These fora will provide opportunities to share lessons learned, exchange updates on domestic applications of the policy options, and track progress collectively.

After project completion, the next steps will focus on sustaining momentum and translating findings into tangible policy and institutional outcomes. These may include: (i) voluntary adoption or adaptation of recommended policy options by APEC member economies; (ii) pilot initiatives or technical cooperation projects led by economies interested in testing specific workforce or regulatory reforms; (iii) cross- fora activities linking maritime workforce reforms with APEC’s broader agendas; and

(iv) follow-up analytical studies or capacity-building programs to deepen understanding of specific international regulatory instruments.

To ensure these actions are pursued, the Project Overseer will encourage economies to share implementation progress, lessons learned, and new initiatives in subsequent meetings of the Transportation Working Group (TPTWG) and the Human Resources Development Working Group (HRDWG). This process will serve as an informal yet practical tracking mechanism for uptake and replication of project outcomes.

Furthermore, the Philippines, through the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the MARINA will compile and circulate a post-project policy brief summarizing good practices and ongoing reforms, which may inform future APEC projects or policy dialogues in related thematic areas.

Progress on the outcomes and impacts will be measured through continued monitoring of indicators such as: the number of economies integrating policy options into national workforce plans, the extent of participation by women in workforce dialogues, and feedback from economies on the usefulness of the outputs for policy reform. Over time, evidence of increased alignment with international maritime standards and improved seafarer welfare across APEC economies will demonstrate the project’s sustained contribution to inclusive and sustainable workforce development.

Direct Labour

Please see Project Proposal in Supporting Documents folder.

Are there any supporting document attached?

Yes

Project No.
Project Title
Project Status
Fund Account
Sub-fund
Project Year
Project Session
APEC Funding
Co-funding Amount
Total Project Value
Sponsoring Forum
Topics
Committee
Other Fora Involved
Other Non-APEC Stakeholders Involved
Proposing Economy(ies)
Co-Sponsoring Economies
Expected Start Date
Expected Completion Date
Project Proponent Name 1
Job Title 1
Organization 1
Telephone 1
Email 1
Project Proponent Name 2
Job Title 2
Organization 2
Telephone 2
Email 2
Declaration
Project Summary
Relevance
Objectives
Alignment
Beneficiaries and Outputs
Dissemination
Gender
Work Plan
Risks
Monitoring and Evaluation
Linkages
Sustainability
Direct Labour
Are there any supporting document attached?
hdFldAdmin
Project Number
Previous Fora
Secretariat Comments
Reprogramming Notes
Consolidated QAF
Endorsement By Fora
PD Sign Off
Batch
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Monitoring Report Received
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PMU Field 1
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On Behalf Of
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Attachments

Content Type: Standard Proposal