Joint Maritime Conference 2026 Successfully Concludes, Spotlighting the Philippines’ Role in Global Shipping

The Joint Maritime Conference 2026, “The Philippines in Global Shipping: Future Opportunities and Threats,” was successfully held on January 29, 2026, at Lanson Place Mall of Asia, Pasay City. Organized by the Joint Maritime Committee of the European Chambers of Commerce in the Philippines, the full-day conference concluded smoothly from opening to closing, earning strong positive feedback from participants across government, industry, and academia.

The conference featured three major thematic panels that shaped in-depth and forward-looking discussions:

The first panel, "Safe Passage: The Shifting Geopolitical Order and Its Implications for Global Shipping,” examined maritime security and global trade routes amid geopolitical uncertainty. The session featured Professor Jay Batongbacal of the University of the Philippines and H.E. Christian Lyster, Ambassador of Norway to the Philippines, with moderation by Mr. Carl Martin Faanessen, President of the Philippine Norway Business Council.

The second panel, “ “Tech or Threat? Artificial Intelligence, Autonomous Vessels, and Cybersecurity,” explored technological disruption and regulatory challenges in shipping. Speakers included Mr. Louiery Reyes Sincioco, Chief Technology Officer of UTS Philippines Inc.; Mr. Jerome Floury, Head of Strategic Sales and Business Development for Southeast Asia at Bureau Veritas; and Ms. Louella Zarcilla, Founder and CEO of LZ Cybersecurity. The session was moderated by Mr. Joost Mes of Marlow Navigation.

The third panel, “The World’s Leading Supplier of Crew Now and in the Future?” focused on the sustainability and global competitiveness of Filipino seafarers. Discussions featured Dr. Winston Conrad B. Padojinog of the University of Asia and the Pacific; Captain Joeran Noestvik of Noatun Maritime; Captain Sherwyn Cinco of the Peter Döhle Group; Mr. Johann Diercks, Managing Director of the Peter Döhle Group; Hon. Sonia Malaluan, Administrator of the Maritime Industry Authority; and Hon. Jerome Pampolina, ASEC DMW. Panel discussions were moderated by Mr. Carl Martin Faanessen.

The conference concluded with a synthesis and closing remarks by Assistant Secretary Villamor Ventura S. Plan of the Department of Transportation, followed by networking sessions that strengthened collaboration among maritime stakeholders.
The Joint Maritime Conference 2026 was organized by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, CCI France Philippines, AHK Philippines (German-Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry), ICCPI (Italian Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines), NordCham Philippines, and the Philippines–Norway Business Council.

The event was co-presented by Peter Döhle Schiffahrts-KG, Marlow Navigation, and ShipMoney Maritime Payment Solutions; sponsored by BSM and the DTC Group; with special thanks to Lubeca Marine Services, Inc. and Scanmar; and supported by Compass, AISL, United Training Services, and Mastoned Maritime.

Overall, the Joint Maritime Conference 2026 successfully reinforced the Philippines’ strategic position in global shipping and underscored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and workforce development in navigating future opportunities and threats.