MARINO PH
Your Maritime Digital Hub
MANILA, Philippines — MARINO PH has established itself as the largest digital maritime media platform in the Philippines, building a nationwide and international audience centered on Filipino seafarers and the maritime industry. The organization now has more than 2.7 million followers on Facebook, while its official website, www.marinoph.com, has more than 900,000 subscribers and readers. Its digital presence is supported by strong social media reach and engagement, allowing maritime news, government advisories, industry developments, educational materials, employment information, and seafarer welfare updates to reach audiences in the Philippines and overseas. The MARINO PH website identifies the organization as the country’s largest maritime community and operates as a dedicated digital hub for maritime news, events, educational information, and other industry content.
A weakening Philippine peso affects the country’s economy by making imported goods and services more expensive. While a weaker peso may benefit exporters and Filipinos receiving foreign-currency remittances, it can also increase living expenses, affect businesses, and reduce consumers’ purchasing power.
US Coast Guard Seeks Commercial Icebreakers to Keep Northeast Ports Open This Winter
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is exploring the use of commercial icebreaking vessels to maintain safe navigation and keep ports operational across the northeastern United States during the upcoming winter season. In a Request for Information (RFI) issued on October 21, 2026, the agency invited qualified commercial vessel operators to provide information on their capabilities to support emergency icebreaking operations and ensure the continued movement of essential cargo. According to the Coast Guard, eligible vessels must be U.S.-flagged, qualified for domestic coastal operations, and capable of operating in ice measuring approximately 4 to 18 inches thick. The vessels must be available for deployment by January 2, 2027. Potential operating areas include Boston Harbor, Cape Cod Canal, Buzzards Bay, Narragansett Bay, and waterways serving several ports in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.
US Sanctions Fraudulent Ship Registries Linked to Iran’s Shadow Fleet
The United States Department of the Treasury imposed sanctions on November 4, 2026, against a network of individuals and organizations accused of operating fraudulent ship registries that helped Iran’s shadow fleet evade international restrictions. The action, conducted under Operation Economic Outcast, targets an India-based network allegedly led by Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, who reportedly provided unauthorized vessel registrations and maritime certifications to tankers transporting Iranian petroleum. According to the Treasury Department, the network impersonated maritime authorities in several countries, including Guyana, Eswatini, Laos, and Nicaragua. Investigators found that the operators created websites resembling official ship registries and offered vessel registration, seafarer certification, and classification services without proper government authorization. The alleged activities date back to at least 2014 and involved vessels operating under flags they were not legally entitled to fly.
The United States Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions on November 4, 2026, targeting an India-based network accused of providing fraudulent ship registrations and maritime certifications to vessels transporting Iranian petroleum. The sanctions were imposed under Operation Economic Outcast, a U.S. initiative aimed at disrupting networks supporting Iran’s oil trade and sanctions evasion. According to the Treasury Department, the network was allegedly operated by Suniel Kumar Sharma and his wife, Jaspreet Preeti Shahid, from Chandigarh, India. U.S. authorities accused the couple of establishing unauthorized ship registries and maritime certification organizations that falsely claimed to represent countries including Guyana, Eswatini, Aruba, Mali, Mozambique, Malawi, Sint Maarten, and Timor-Leste. The alleged activities reportedly began as early as 2014.
US-Iran Standoff in Strait of Hormuz Raises Shipping Costs and Threatens Global Oil Trade
MIDDLE EAST — Continued attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the United States' blockade of Iranian oil exports have created an economic standoff, affecting maritime trade, shipping costs, and global energy markets. Oil shipments through the strategic waterway are reportedly operating at approximately 80% of prewar levels, while security threats continue to increase marine insurance premiums and tanker operating costs. The US blockade has sharply reduced Iran's oil exports, which were approximately two million barrels per day before the conflict. Meanwhile, higher transportation and insurance expenses have contributed to elevated fuel prices. Despite the security situation, commercial tankers continue navigating the strait, with US Central Command stating that approximately 95% of vessels transit without incident. American forces are also coordinating vessel movements and providing protection against potential attacks.
Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Initiative Successfully Launched in Manila
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Center, Inc. (PASLCI) successfully held the official launching of the Philippine Archipelagic Sea Lanes Initiative (PASLI) on October 28, 2026, at Rizal Park Hotel in Manila. The event marked an important step in advancing the country\'s efforts to strengthen maritime governance, enhance institutional cooperation, and pursue international recognition of its designated archipelagic sea lanes.
MANILA, Philippines — Kongsberg Maritime successfully concluded its SimConnect Asia & Pacific Simulation User Conference 2026 on October 23 at Citadines Bay City Hotel in Manila, bringing together maritime professionals, industry leaders, training institutions, regulators, and other key stakeholders. The conference served as a platform for discussing technological advancements, maritime education, and the evolving requirements of the global shipping industry. Highlighting 50 years of maritime simulation excellence, the gathering emphasized the importance of innovation in preparing seafarers for increasingly complex shipboard operations. The event also encouraged stronger cooperation among maritime organizations committed to improving training quality, competency assessment, and operational safety.
TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2026 successfully concluded its three-day international conference held from October 20 to 22, 2026, at Shangri-La The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, bringing together maritime executives, shipowners, ship managers, government regulators, maritime training institutions, and industry stakeholders from across the world. The international gathering served as a platform for strengthening maritime cooperation, addressing workforce challenges, and advancing initiatives focused on seafarer welfare, professional development, and the future of global shipping. Featuring expert-led discussions, industry exhibitions, networking activities, and recognition ceremonies, the conference highlighted the maritime sector’s continuing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and human resource development. The successful gathering also reinforced the Philippines’ important role as a major supplier of skilled maritime professionals to the international shipping industry.
Final Day of Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2026 Successfully Concludes in Manila
TAGUIG CITY, Philippines — The third and final day of Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2026 successfully concluded on October 22 at Shangri-La The Fort, Bonifacio Global City, marking the completion of the international maritime conference. The concluding sessions brought together maritime executives, industry experts, shipping representatives, and stakeholders to address critical issues affecting seafarer welfare, working conditions, and the future of the global maritime workforce.
An allotment is a portion of a seafarer’s monthly salary remitted by the employer to the seafarer’s designated beneficiary, known as the allottee, in the Philippines.
A tropical cyclone is a powerful rotating weather system that develops over warm ocean waters. Its main features include the eye, eyewall, spiral rainbands, inflow, and outflow. The eye is generally calm, while the surrounding eyewall produces the strongest winds and heaviest rainfall. Spiral rainbands extend outward, bringing thunderstorms and gusty winds across a wide area.
CPR, or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, is an emergency lifesaving procedure performed when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally or has no signs of circulation. It combines chest compressions and, when appropriate, rescue breaths to help keep blood and oxygen flowing to the brain and other vital organs until the heart starts working again or professional medical help arrives. For an adult, CPR generally uses 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths, repeated at a rate of 100–120 compressions per minute. An AED should be used as soon as it becomes available.
Navigate with awareness and confidence! Understanding the zone of approach helps mariners recognize how vessels meet, cross, and overtake—building the awareness needed to assess potential collision risks.
