Manila, Philippines — November 2025. The world’s premier crewing and manning conference, Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global, is set to return to Manila from 11–13 November 2025 at the prestigious Shangri-La The Fort. Recognized as the leading international platform dedicated to maritime crewing, training, and seafarer welfare, this year’s event promises to deliver an even more engaging and dynamic program, bringing together hundreds of industry leaders, regulators, shipowners, training providers, and welfare advocates from across the globe.

Crew Connect Global has long been established as the most influential gathering of its kind, and the 2025 edition is expected to set new benchmarks in content, networking, and collaboration. Over the course of three days, the conference will host more than 700 maritime professionals, feature over 40 conference sessions, and showcase the expertise of 100 distinguished speakers alongside 65 leading suppliers and service providers. The scale and scope of this year’s program reaffirm Crew Connect Global’s status as the central hub for dialogue on the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of crewing.

The event will open with keynote sessions addressing the changing landscape of maritime employment, with particular focus on the anticipated updates to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) convention and the evolving role of the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The agenda will highlight critical themes such as the integration of artificial intelligence and digital platforms into crewing operations, the skills gap emerging from the decarbonisation agenda, and the urgent need to strengthen mental health support and inclusivity in the maritime workforce.

High-profile speakers confirmed for Crew Connect Global 2025 include Susanne Justesen, Director of Human Sustainability at the Global Maritime Forum; Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF); Katie Higginbottom, Head of ITF Seafarers’ Trust; Karen Davis, Managing Director of OCIMF; Torbjørn Eide, Vice President at Klaveness Ship Management; Helio Vicente, Director of Employment Affairs at ICS; Sara Baade, CEO of Sailors’ Society; and Ben Bailey, Director of Programmes at the Mission to Seafarers. Their presence underscores the event’s global significance and the breadth of expertise it brings together.

In addition to the conference sessions, the exhibition floor will once again provide a platform for innovators to showcase cutting-edge solutions in crew management, training technologies, and welfare services. From AI-driven analytics to advanced simulators and wellbeing programs, the exhibition promises to highlight the tools that are redefining the maritime workplace.

A major highlight of the event will be the Crew Connect Global Awards 2025, scheduled for 12 November. This gala evening will recognize outstanding contributions across categories such as innovation, training excellence, environmental leadership, and lifetime achievement. The awards not only celebrate excellence but also inspire continued progress and innovation in the crewing sector.

As the countdown begins, the return of Crew Connect Global to Manila is seen as both a recognition of the Philippines’ critical role in global shipping and an opportunity for the international community to come together to share knowledge, build partnerships, and reaffirm its commitment to seafarers. For the thousands of Filipino seafarers who form the backbone of the world’s fleets, the event serves as a powerful reminder that their contributions remain at the center of industry transformation.

Crew Connect Global 2025 is more than a conference; it is a forum for shaping the future of maritime crewing, where innovation and human resilience meet. This November, Manila will once again become the stage where the world discusses not only the challenges ahead but also the collective vision of a sustainable, inclusive, and seafarer-focused shipping industry.