PTC Waves Issue 3 | 2021

THE OFFICIAL E-BULLETIN OF

Volume 17 | Issue 3 | 2021

A LETTER FROM THE

EDITORIAL TEAM

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vision of a Filipino seafarer on every vessel in every sea, moving the world was the spark that inspired the founders of Philippine Transmarine Carriers.

In this issue of Waves, we spotlight the noble global maritime professional (GMP), the heart and soul of every vessel and the raison d’etre for all of us at PTC. We highlight the culture of care that informs our business and personnel decisions, and imagineers a better and brighter future for our heroes at the frontlines of the maritime industry.

To celebrate the Day of the Seafarer, we take inspiration from PTC global maritime professionals who represent the best of the brightest; embodying the abilities, character and values that have made Filipinos the seafarer of choice. We also expand upon the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2021 Theme, “A Fair Future for Seafarers,” through the reflections of our leaders, which are peppered throughout this edition.

On behalf of the entire organization, we take this opportunity to recognize the heroism of our global maritime professionals.

They are the backbone of the maritime industry, the life force of every fleet whose skills, smarts, teamwork and instincts enable the transport of 90% of global trade. This recognition comes with a passionate commitment to the personal and professional development of every GMP. We salute you today and every day!

- Y O U R WAV E S E D I T O R I A L T E A M -

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Promoting a Fair Future for Seafarers

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PTC Honors its Global Maritime Professionals on the Day of the Seafarer

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PTC Joins the Philippine Maritime Industry in its Efforts to Restart, Rebound and Recover Capt. Ronald Enrile Introduces WeTeam at SMOU and AMOSUP Mental Wellness Webinar

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Advancing Maritime Training and Career Development

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PHILCAMSAT Announces Latest Initiatives in Maritime Training and Seafarer Wellbeing

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Gerardo Borromeo Highlights the Importance of Mental Health Among Seafarers at Sea Asia Insights Webinar

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Delivering Quality Customer Care Jebsen PTC Launches Nationwide Virtual Job Fair

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Enhancing the Professional Competence of GMPs with the FCR Life Skills Mentorship Program

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PTC Group Strengthens Digital Transformation with Vinta Crewing System Jebsen PTC-Iloilo Moves to Its New Home

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PTC GMPs Tapped to Serve as Community First Responders Through Project Rise PTC-CSJ Foundation and East-West Seed Foundation Promote Urban Farming with VeggiEskwela PTC Partners with SAVES to Support DepEd’s Blended Learning Program

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Protecting Life Below Water and Serving our Community

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Cultivating Tomorrow’s Global Maritime Professionals

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PTC-CSJ, WWF and the Department of Educaton Collaborate to Integrate Sustainable Development in Basic Education Moving the World Through Innovation: An essay by Dean Anthony Canson, Jr. of PHILCAMSAT

Homeruns in Operational Excellence

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Exceeding Global Standards: The PTC Group Succeeds in International Certification Audits PTCi: ISO 9001:2015 PTCi: MLC 2006 PHILCAMSAT: UK-MNTB Accreditation

Ship Management Updates

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The PTC Group Announces Latest Strides in Ship Management

The Philippines’ Maritime Birth Right

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Lessons in Service Excellence from PTC Founder Ambassador Carlos Salinas

Off The Press

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From the Desk of the IMO Maritime Ambassador: Seafarers’ Mental Health Mastering Maritime from Sea to Shore: A feature on PTC Ship Management’s Capt. Ronald

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PTC HONORS ITS GLOBAL MARITIME PROFESSIONALS ON THE

DAY

OF THE

SEAFARER

n celebration of the Day of the Seafarer, PTC paid tribute to its noble Global Maritime Professionals (GMPs) and the world’s 1.5 million seafarers, for their unique and invaluable contribution to world trade and keeping nations supplied during this pandemic.

Supporting the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) theme for this year’s celebration, PTC honored the central role of GMPs in the future of shipping through a variety of initiatives and activities.

To champion the welfare of seafarers, both local and foreign, PTC remains resolute in its commitment to helping ensure uninterrupted global trade by working closely with governments and organizations all over the world. Its efforts include championing the Neptune Declaration 6

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on Seafarer Wellbeing, lobbying for the continued implementation of green lanes for crew change, and participating in the tripartite agreement involving over 30 private companies and the Philippine government in support of the country’s COVID-19 inoculation program.

Keeping seafarers’ emotional well-being front and center, PTC partnered with the Synergy Marine Group (SMG) to bring the seafarer community together as one under WeTeam. It is a faith neutral service that is absolutely confidential, free, 24/7, available in over 14 languages, and open to every seafarer across the globe beyond the PTC and Synergy Group. Making all these initiatives possible is PTC’s strong partnership with the government, international maritime bodies and industry organizations where members of PTC’s management team occupy key leadership positions.

Emphasizing the company’s commitment to the health and safety of its GMPs, PTC organized a Community Health Pantry to provide health kits for GMPs who visited PTC last June 25. A virtual Seafarer’s Day program meanwhile was presented by Jebsen PTC via Facebook as a salute to all maritime workers on their special day. And to tackle the very important topic of seafarer health and mental wellbeing, PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo and Capt. Rajesh Unni, Founder and CEO of the Synergy Group, served as special guests on the special Day of the Seafarer episode of Marino World Online’s Maritime Viewpoints.

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PTC JOINS THE

PHILIPPINE MARITIME INDUSTRY IN ITS EFFORTS TO

RESTART, REBOUND AND RECOVER

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TC launched a townhall series designed to help “Restart, Rebound and Recover the Philippine Maritime Industry” through highly engaged dialogues with industry stakeholders, and representatives from the Philippine government.

Launched in May, the townhall served as the first of a series of stakeholder engagement sessions for the company and signifies the PTC Group’s ‘ commitment to contribute to the Philippine maritime industry’s efforts to restart, rebound and recover from what has been a challenging year and half for all industries. It also ignites conversations about ways that PTC can form true partnerships in recovery efforts as it drives towards a better normal - greater, faster, and stronger together.

As part of this program, the company was able to initiate fruitful dialogues with the esteemed leaders of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA), namely VADM Robert A. Empedrad AFP (Ret), Administrator; VADM Rene V. Medina AFP (Ret), Executive Director, STCW Office; and Capt. Jeffrey P. Solon, Officer-in-Charge, Office of the Deputy Administrator for Planning.

The initiative follows the inclusion of Filipino seafarers among the top four priority groups in the government’s national vaccination program. Following the Department of Transportation’s recommendation, seafarers are now classified under Category A4 (frontline personnel in essential sectors) in recognition of the vital role they play in the present global crisis. This is a significant move from their previous grouping under Categories B3 and B5.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

We have to ensure that we develop our global maritime professionals with the skill sets and competencies that will allow them to be confident because confidence, combined with the heart and soul for service, makes for a fantastic individual. And to achieve this, PTC has provided a social infrastructure platform that enables the long-term development of Filipinos to allow them to compete effectively in just about any industry that they want to get involved with.”

Gerado A. Borromeo CEO of PTC

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SERVING THE COUNTRY AS

INDUSTRY RESOURCES

C/E Alfredo Haboc (top row, 2nd from right) and Capt. Ronold Enrile (bottom row, leftmost) with the other members of the MARINA SAC.

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apt. Ronald Enrile, Head of PTC Ship Management, and C/E Alfredo Haboc, QA and Program Director of PHILCAMSAT, PTC’s training arm, have been appointed as members of the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) STCW Advisory Council (SAC).

C/E Haboc will be representing Members of the Academe Teaching Professionals STCW Courses along with Capt. Emerico B. Gepilano while Capt. Enrile will give voice to Maritime Business Service Providers along with Ms. Josephine J. Francisco.

As SAC members, Capt. Enrile and C/E Haboc will provide advice to MARINA on the formulation of appropriate, clear and coherent policies and regulatory document frameworks as it implements the amended requirements of STCW Convention 1978. They will also assist MARINA by providing information and updates on new developments in the industry and in identifying key issues which affect the country’s maritime education and training; propose changes or recommend alternative solutions and enhancements on existing policies and regulations; and participate in meaningful dialogue and exchanges between MARINA and stakeholders.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

As we all know, 90% of world trade is transported through shipping and for this reason, seafarers are the prime movers of the global economy. I hope that seafarers will be able to transit easily through various countries during their embarkation and disembarkation process. I think this is the fair treatment that seafarers, as essential workers, deserve.”

Capt. Pol Haboc Head of PHILCAMSAT and The MAST

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CAPT. ENRILE INTRODUCES

WeTeam SMOU & AMOSUP

AT MENTAL WELLNESS WEBINAR

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TC’s Capt. Ronald Enrile introduced WeTeam as he spoke about the importance of looking after the mental health of seafarers at the “Managing Stress & Achieving Mental Wellness at Sea” webinar organized by the Singapore Maritime Officers’ Union (SMOU) and the Associated Marine Officers’ and Seamen’s Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP) last May 31, 2021 via Zoom.

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The webinar gathered seafarers from all over the South East Asian region and featured talks from industry leaders who provided attendees with an understanding of the unique, high-stress environment that seafarers work in and the challenges that they face being away from home. And while these challenges cannot entirely be avoided, Capt. Enrile reminded seafarers that there is help available to them in the form of the WeTeam Emotional Wellbeing and Support Helpline which provides faith neutral, confidential, free, 24/7 counseling available in over 14 languages for seafarers across the globe. This is a joint project between the PTC Group and Synergy Marine Group.

Also helping to introduce WeTeam to a wider audience was Roy Akker, PHILCAMSAT Director for Business Operations & Development, who served as a resource speaker at the “Improving Seafarer’s Mental Health and Well-Being” webinar organized by the Dutch Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (DCCP) last June 23.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

With the present situation of the world, it is just but right that we look to a better future for our seafarers. Seafarers are doing everything to transport cargo and passengers from point A to point B. But unfortunately, we still have issues with crew change.

There are still many restrictions for our seafarers and the industry needs to address this. There are seafarers who are on extended contracts and it is challenging to replace them on time. We should ask the different governments to really enforce the crew change protocols so that our seafarers, upon completion of their contracts, can go home, rest and be with their family.”

Capt. Ronald Enrile Head of PTC Ship Management

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PHILCAMSAT ANNOUNCES LATEST INITIATIVES IN

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MARITIME TRAINING AND

SEAFARER WELLBEING

he Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training, Inc. (PHILCAMSAT) marked their 29th anniversary last May 26 with a webinar discussing the future of maritime education and training (MET) as the industry recovers and rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic. The program, attended by both Philippine and overseas clients of the Center, was opened

by Capt. Pol Haboc, PHILCAMSAT Executive Director and Mr. Edgar Milla, Chief Operating Officer of PTC. PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo also congratulated the Center for transforming seafarers into global maritime professionals over the past 29 years.

The event featured engaging discussions on current trends and innovations in MET which included a segment on “Rethinking 14

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the Maritime Training During and After a Pandemic” presented by Mr. Vijay Jeyakumaran, Marine Training Manager of Berge Bulk Marine Maritime Pte. Ltd. He was followed by Mr. Erle Miranda, Head of ROHQ & Crewing at Epic Kosan Maritime Pte. Ltd., who gave a talk on “Moving Back to Face-to-Face Conduct of Training.”

Mr. Roy Akker, PHILCAMSAT’s Director for Business Operations and Development, updated the attendees on a number of exciting developments in training at PHILCAMSAT.

Among the landmark initiatives announced during the anniversary event was PHILCAMSAT’s partnership with Scoutbase which aims to strengthen the Center’s range of competency courses on Human Behavior, Mental Health, Communications and Leadership housed under the Center’s BRIDGE Program or Building Resiliency in Diverse Global Environments.

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The partnership brings together PHILCAMSAT’s strength in maritime training and its steadfast commitment to help improve seafarers’ work and life at sea, and the crew feedback platform Scoutbase.

Based in Denmark, Scoutbase has developed a unique system that tracks early leading indicators of wellbeing, productivity, and safety over time onboard in order to identify challenges in everyday work.

The platform does not interfere with the ship’s systems and maintains the anonymity of the people onboard. The data gathered by the system will serve as an early warning system for any developing wellbeing and safety issues onboard thus helping prevent accidents and facilitating a more efficient working environment at sea.

PTC, PHILCAMSAT and Scoutbase give a thumbs up to seafarer wellbeing and safety.

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“The wellbeing and welfare of our GMPs has always been the top priority of PTC. They breathe life into the industry of shipping and move the world through the important work that they do,” said PTC CEO Gerardo Borromeo. “By partnering with Scoutbase through our training arm PHILCAMSAT, we hope to build a powerful social infrastructure platform that will serve our GMPs and create an impact not just in the maritime industry, but ultimately on the future of work as a whole.”

“We are very excited to announce our partnership with PHILCAMSAT, which at the core is about a shared value of care for seafarers and the understanding that a happy and resilient crew is a necessity for safe and efficient operations,” shared Sebastian Nause Blueml, Co-Founder & COO of Scoutbase. “We look forward to leveraging our Human Factors platform to support ongoing crew welfare programs and exploring ways in which we can, together with PHILCAMSAT, use our technology to further help improve the quality of life and work for seafarers.”

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GERARDO BORROMEO HIGHLIGHTS THE IMPORTANCE OF

MENTAL HEALTH

AMONG SEAFARERS AT

SEA ASIA INSIGHTS WEBINAR

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TC CEO Gerardo Borromeo joined industry leaders in discussing seafarer welfare and the outlook for post pandemic global trade at the Sea Asia Insights webinar “Thriving Shipping Business through the Human Element” held on April 21. The webinar highlighted the tremendous hardships faced by seafarers over the past 12 months and the all-encompassing strategic aspects of human resource planning, wellbeing, and training, as society and business re-emerge from the global pandemic.

The webinar was part of Sea Asia’s inaugural Virtual Preview event which took place from April 21 to 22 during Singapore Maritime Week. The event is a precursor to Sea Asia 2021, a hybrid virtual and physical event aimed at bringing people and businesses back together, to collaborate, re-engage, re-establish relationships, and reconnect around the transformation of the maritime industry following the uncertainty and disruption of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

My vision is equality, respect and fair treatment towards all who work in our industry and that global maritime professionals may receive the respect and gratitude that they deserve. Governments and organizations must acknowledge the fact that seafarers are key workers and that their work deserves more respect and all stakeholders will have to work to make this happen.”

Roy Akker Director for Business Operations & Development PHILCAMSAT

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JEBSEN PTC LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE VIRTUAL JOB FAIR

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ebsen PTC officially launched its virtual job fair series last May 20 on Facebook, to reach out to aspiring seafarers all over the country who wish to apply for exciting career opportunities with Jebsen PTC from the safety and comfort of their homes.

“The pandemic has without a doubt been an incredibly challenging time for the shipping and maritime industry,” said Ms. Beng Cristobal, President of Jebsen PTC Maritime, Inc. “To overcome the challenges and limitations of the present situation, we are constantly looking for opportunities to help seafarers and the recovery of our industry. That is why we are going digital, to make it safer and easier for applicants to look for employment

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opportunities in our company. We hope that this online job fair will be very helpful to all aspiring seafarers in the country.”

“We would like to help you achieve your goals of providing for your family, being promoted to the next level or assuming your higher-grade licenses in the near future,” said Ms. Thess Lunzaga, Vice President of Jebsen PTC Maritime, Inc., as she addressed the applicants. “We at Jebsen PTC continue to market you, the Filipino seafarer, as the ultimate choice for vessels all over the world.

We believe in the Filipino who has the right attitude, who can be trained with the skills needed onboard, and who are capable to move, control and lead ships safely and efficiently. Lastly, we will help you navigate your career from ship to shore.”

To watch the Jebsen PTC’s job fair series, visit www.facebook.com/JebsenPTC.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

Defining what a key essential worker means is very important in defining what a fair future for seafarers should be. While the situation at sea may have been heightened by the pandemic, what this all boils down to is that seafarers deserve the same treatment we as onshore workers are enjoying. That means access to all basic services which is only possible if they are given port access. We have heard of cases of vessels being denied entry to a port because there is a suspected case of COVID-19 onboard and that is a denial of medical access. Port access means access to supplies, medical services, and crew change. In the same manner that we are able to enjoy our vacations, so should they. If their contract is ending, then they should be allowed to go home to their families and those joining their vessels should be given the right to fulfill their jobs.”

Beng Cristobal Senior Vice President of Cargo Operations PTC Shipping

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ENHANCING THE

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF GMPS WITH THE

FCR LIFE SKILLS MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Life Skills Mentorship Program

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TC’s Family and Crew Relations (FCR) continues to help Global Maritime Professionals (GMPs) and their families pursue purposeful lives despite the limitations of the pandemic. In partnership with Fair Training Center, Inc. (FTC), FCR is conducting an 18-month long online Life Skills Mentorship Program.

The series is designed to equip GMPs with knowledge and skills on Financial Education by teaching them how to create clearer financial plans that they can start executing as soon as they embark on their next journey. The Migration Adaptation module focuses on how they can adjust to rough seas, deal with crewmates, communicate with loved ones back home, and take care of their overall well-being at sea. Finally, the participants are given one-on-one coaching so they can gain a deeper understanding of professionalism, communicating effectively in the workplace, and cultivating an attitude towards excellence onboard and in life.

The program kicked off last March with a Train the Trainers session for its coaches namely, Mr. Jose Gauna and Ms. Jenneth San Pedro Soller of PTC Aviation Training Center.

To date, six batches of GMPs have successfully completed the mentorship program.

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PTC GROUP STRENGTHENS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION WITH

VINTA CREWING SYSTEM

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TC’s digital journey has taken a significant leap forward with the recent implementation of Vinta for the first set of principals - an effort to enhance its overall crewing system.

The Vinta Project was first launched in November 2020 with the objective of establishing a more integrated and complete full cycle crewing system. Crew Request, Forward Planning,

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Document Monitoring, and Payroll are just some of the features included in the Vinta system. In addition, a user interface website, for our global maritime professionals (seafarers) to enable remote access, is a feature that evolved from PTC’s original crew management system - C2020.

The improved system also boasts of an integration facility that will guarantee smoother interaction between the PTC Group and their external vendors and suppliers. The Vinta Project was developed using the latest Microsoft technology and is hosted using the Amazon cloud environment.

Notwithstanding the continuing overall impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the PTC IT team worked closely to complete the tasks within 7 months (taking into consideration the Christmas break). The next phases will see the complete rollout of Vinta to all PTC Principals and is expected to be completed by September 2021.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

Seafarers are frontliners, especially in this time of pandemic.

I look forward to a time when seafarers can enjoy a regularity in their schedule which will allow them to plot their vacation to spend quality time with their family and onboarding schedule to enable them to put things into prospective. With that, a global maritime professional can divide his time for labor, family and leisure, and for training and self-development. If we can do that, then we can give a fair future to seafarers.”

Capt. Florencio Jampil Fleet Manager | Lighthouse Ship Management Phils., Inc.

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JEBSEN PTC - ILOILO MOVES TO ITS

NEW HOME

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n May 3, 2021, Jebsen PTC - Iloilo moved to its new home located at 22 Manfreds Building, General Luna St., Iloilo City to better serve Global Maritime Professionals and aspiring seafarers in the region. The new location provides easier access to public transportation and a bigger, more spacious office that will allow GMPs and applicants to conduct their transactions safely and conveniently.

The new office was blessed on May 14 by Rev. Fr. Mark Joseph Hormigoso with the ceremony attended by Jebsen PTC employees.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

I’ve been a seafarer for seventeen years and the ability to go ashore in all ports might not sound like much to people working on land, but when you are isolated for six months, even going out to the supermarket makes a lot of difference. So, in the future, I would like for seafarers to have easier access to safe ports when going ashore. I would also like to see seafarers getting the same advantage in accessing communications so that they can communicate with family and friends more, manage their finances by accessing their online bank accounts, update their knowledge on the latest regulations and ultimately feel less isolated even when they are away at sea.”

Capt. Allwyn Lobo Vice President of Ship Management Jebsen PTC

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We hope that all countries will support the initiatives of the IMO that aim to promote the welfare and safety of seafarers and likewise adopt the green lanes policy for crew change.

We also hope that medical support is made more accessible to those who need it and that more efforts will be made to protect seafarers from discrimination. My vision is for all people to see them as valuable people who assisted us during such a difficult period by bringing the essentials of our daily life. The entire industry must also take steps to prepare for future eventualities such as this to ensure the safety and lives of our seafarers.”

Karen Avelino Executive Director of Business Development for Shipping & Senior Vice President of Cruise Operations PTC

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PTC GMPS TAPPED TO SERVE AS COMMUNITY FIRST RESPONDERS THROUGH

PROJECT RISE

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embers of PTCi’s Crewing Team took part in a virtual townhall meeting on April 30 to learn more about Project RISE and how they can engage PTC GMPs to help their respective communities be safe and resilient in times of disasters.

Project RISE (Resiliency Improvement for Seafarers & Seafaring Enterprises) is a cornerstone of PTC’s sustainability efforts. Through PTC’s partners, Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformations (ASSIST), the group is committed to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals (UNSDGs), specifically in the promotion of disaster preparedness and response.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

People should know and understand what a seafarer is and how their output affects our lives. They bring such invaluable contribution to world trade and are responsible for bringing us the goods that we have - the food on our table, fuel to run our cars, our smart phones and computers for work and leisure. A global campaign is much needed for people to know that without our seafarers, the world as we know it will stop. They deserve to be celebrated and given much appreciation and respect as the world’s key workers.”

Capt. Stan Santiago Change Management Advisor PTC

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PTC-CSJ FOUNDATION AND

EAST-WEST SEED FOUNDATION PROMOTE URBAN FARMING WITH

VEGGIESKWELA

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he PTC-CSJ Foundation and East-West Seed Foundation (EWSF) recently launched a new partnership project, VeggiEskwela, that aims to enhance food security through vegetable production at home and in schools.

VeggiEskwela provides participants with capacity building, gardening input, seeds, tools and materials to enable them to establish vegetable gardens using available backyard spaces and repurposed containers.

A total of 52 trainees, consisting of teachers, staff and parents from PTC-CSJ’s 13 beneficiary schools in Muntinlupa City attended weekly online sessions, submitted weekly assignments and took tests to receive their certification for the program.

As Jay Evano, a participant and teacher from Lakeview Integrated School, said, “Many of us initially did it out of interest or as a hobby. But we realized that we needed to be methodical; the training gave us the technical know-how to efficiently maintain our own urban garden.”

Through VeggiEskwela, PTC-CSJ hopes to further support the families of its partner schools during this pandemic, in addition to its ongoing 3G Nutrition Enhancement/Feeding Program.

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PTC

PARTNERS WITH TO SUPPORT

SAVES

DEPED’S BLENDED LEARNING PROGRAM

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he PTC Group made a second donation of tablets to Grade 6 learners of the San Antonio Village Elementary School (SAVES) in Makati in support of the blended learning program of the Department of Education (DepEd). With this technology, learners who were having difficulty accessing their web-based modules due to lack of resources are now ably equipped to actively participate in their online lessons. During the turnover, SAVES Principal I Ma. Julieta Cecilia San Jose said, “These tablets will help our learners tremendously. Those who were at risk of dropping out of school due to lack of resources will now be able to complete their online school requirements through PTC’s support.”

M/Gen Restituto Padilla Jr. AFP (Ret), PTCH Executive Director for Corporate Public Policy, Risks and Sustainability, turned over the tablets to Ms. San Jose and Master Teacher I Elvie Cabebe last June 11.

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PTC-CSJ, WWF AND DEPED MUNTINLUPA COLLABORATE TO INTEGRATE

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN BASIC EDUCATION

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he PTC-CSJ Foundation, WWF-Philippines and the Department of Education (DepEd) conducted the first-ever virtual demo teaching at the DepEdMuntinlupa Division Office as part of the Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Project last April 29 to 30 and May 3 to 4, 2021.

ESD is an initiative implemented by WWF-Philippines and PTC-CSJ in the first quarter of this year. The program includes online teacher training and ESD sessions for students.

A total of 16 WWF-trained teachers from PTC-CSJ’s 10 public elementary school partners participated in the demo teaching, as well as some of their students who were proficient in online learning tools.

The teachers successfully demonstrated how they have integrated ESD in their respective lesson plans for Science, Math, Filipino and Social Sciences.

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PTC Leaders Share Strategies for Future Proofing the Maritime Industry

At PTC and Jebsen PTC, we believe that seafarers should be afforded all of the opportunities that are available. We create a space for them where they feel very secure in terms of their employment, opportunities for advancement, and in helping owners take care of their assets. When discussing a fair future for seafarers, the IMO mentions a safe and secure environment onboard ships, reasonable working conditions, fair treatment in all situations, and respect for the rights of all regardless of race, gender and religion. To ensure that these tenets are respected, we work with world-class ship owners that adhere to the same principles.”

Edgar Milla Chief Operating Officer PTC

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MOVING THE WORLD THROUGH

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INNOVATION An essay by Dean Anthony Canson Jr. of PHILCAMSAT

he maritime industry should maintain its resiliency in a Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous (VUCA) world. Volatility refers to the demands of the market which are very dynamic and change rapidly. Uncertainty indicates that no one can ever predict what lies ahead. Complexity involves various issues that are multi-layered and may be difficult to interpret while ambiguity means that there is no one size fits all solution.

Everyone witnessed how the maritime industry also sits on a VUCA world after the COVID-19 pandemic shook the entire globe. Even routinary crew change procedures were affected as most countries closed their borders to contain the virus, leaving thousands of seafarers stranded onboard their ships. Those directly and indirectly dependent on the cruise line industry lost their jobs. Lockdowns and movement restrictions led to port congestion. The global supply chain was challenged as 80% of global trade by volume and over 70% of global trade by value are carried by sea and are handled by ports worldwide, according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

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There were also reports of less demand for cargo as health authorities avoided the risk of spreading COVID-19. Operational costs increased due to new necessities such as personal protective equipment and the payment of severe fines and penalties caused by delayed surveys, inspection and crew changes.

Innovation has been identified as one of the key strategies to maintain competitiveness in this VUCA world; its significance is well recognized in the field of business. Marine trailblazers as innovators must be prepared to navigate the rough seas of the maritime sphere. They must provide the best, customized solutions that address the problems of this industry.

Foremost of these challenges is the resistance of some stakeholders to change, choosing instead to remain traditional. Maritime leaders must be creative in introducing a culture of innovation. Innovators should be equipped with the proper framework and methodologies that will work for the industry. They must also have the ability to develop innovative thinking, planning and implementation skills. On top of that, maritime innovators need to remove all remaining barriers to unleash their full potential in steering the industry’s innovation challenges.

During my tenure as a seafarer, I asked my shipmates on their insights about innovation. Only five out of 19 said that they have random thoughts about it. According to Gerardo, the Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) and Automatic RADAR Plotting Aid (ARPA) are products of innovation. Romvic and Rone talked about simplifying the recruitment process for seafarers while Reymar wishes for more affordable internet service for maritime vessels. On the other hand, Joseph wants to study an onboard equipment that converts a ship’s domestic waste to energy.

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We create solutions because of regulations and policies but not because of innovation. My vision for the maritime industry and the seafaring profession in the year 2050 is to have innovation at its core. This presents a powerful opportunity especially for seafarers. I am confident that innovation efforts will become even more successful if the experience and expertise of mariners are incorporated because in most maritime innovation projects, seafarers are the end-users themselves.

To achieve this vision in the next 5 years, aspiring maritime innovators should S.H.I.P. it out.

Start with Empathy – Innovators should know what the users really feel and identify what they really want. Human-centric and rational approach will help innovators produce a superior product or service for the customers.

Harmonize ideas with data – Innovators must construct a viewpoint backed by reliable data and statistics. According to IBM, data is a power driver of successful innovation because it can motivate ideation, development, execution, and evaluation of new technologies.

Innovate and implement – In this stage, innovators will start visualizing the concept, test various postulates, and build the representation of ideas.

Brainstorming should result to the wildest and most creative solutions.

Prototyping is a continuing process that is why innovators should be open for more breakthroughs.

Promote Sustainable Development – Innovators should remind 38

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themselves of the vision of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and take part in answering the universal call to end poverty, protect the environment and ensure that all people live in peace and prosperity.

We can write and list down all our visions and aspirations for the industry as much as we want, but if effective and competent innovators are limited, their ideas may not sail and simply be washed out into the sea.

A good team of innovators creates a breath of fresh air. We need more people like Gerardo, Romvic, Rone, Reymar and Joseph. If maritime stakeholders will not support their thoughts and ideas, who will?

Thankfully, there are initiatives from shipping entities enabling maritime startup accelerators, and it is a good indicator that they recognize the urgent need for innovation.

Today is the right time to raise more awareness on maritime innovation.

Let us invest and develop a new breed of innovators to design business models, technologies, processes, products, and services that will solve the problems of today and the future. Soon-to-be innovators are expected to be the leaders of managing ambiguity and uncertainty. Embracing sustainable innovation is essential to surviving in a VUCA environment.

Together, we can move the world in more ways than one, through innovation.

Dean Anthony O. Canson Jr. is a Filipino marine deck officer and is currently a Master of Science in Innovation and Business student from the Asian Institute of Management.

He is also the Project/Education and Training Officer of Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training (PHILCAMSAT).

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EXCEEDING GLOBAL STANDARDS: THE PTC GROUP SUCCEEDS IN

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INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION AUDITS

onsistent with the PTC Group’s commitment to continuous development and a culture of excellence, PTCi and PHILCAMSAT succeeded in their respective certification audits conducted this quarter.

PTCI: ISO 9001:2015 PTC Inc. once more achieved the highest rating of 5 on the criteria “Degree of Control to Quality Management System” at its latest ISO 9001:2015 External Audit conducted by DNV-GL from May 27 to 28.

The auditing team, headed by Mr. Alexander Javier, found five positive indications during the audit including the robust way that the company responded to the challenges of COVID-19 and PTC’s notable efforts to strengthen its protocols and risk management initiatives to ensure sustainability and business continuity.

PTCI: MLC 2006 PTC successfully passed its Maritime Labor Convention (MLC) 2006 External Audit conducted by DNVGL, represented by auditor Jessen Reyes, last June 7.

DNV-GL noted several positive indications. Foremost was the company’s very detailed guidelines on the implementation of its health and safety protocols as well as its initiatives to create a culture of integrity that cascades across the PTC seafarer community.

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PHILCAMSAT: UK-MNTB ACCREDITATION

HILCAMSAT continues to excel as a Recognized Centre of the United Kingdom Merchant Navy Training Board (MNTB) following the annual verification audit facilitated by MNTB evaluator Gary Hindmarch last May 31.

PHILCAMSAT initially acquired MNTB recognition for their landmark course on “Human Element in Leadership Training” back in 2016 and successfully achieved MNTB Centre Recognition in March 2019. This means that all courses offered

by PHILCAMSAT meet the strict international standards of MNTB and have thus been granted the right to use the MNTB Centre Recognition kitemark - a globally recognized mark that certifies the safety, reliability and quality of a product or service.

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SHIP MANAGEMENT UPDATES

The PTC Group continues to move the world amid the new normal as it successfully takes over the technical management of international vessels, enabling the movement of essential cargo across continents and helping provide employment to more Filipino maritime professionals.

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LIGHTHOUSE PROVIDES NEW APPROACH TO SHIP MANAGEMENT WITH MV SILVICULTURE

ighthouse Shipmanagement Phils., Inc., (LHSM) successfully took over the technical management of MV Silviculture, a woodchip carrier with 48,737 gross tonnage owned by Toyo Kaiun Co., Ltd. The delivery of the vessel took place last April 21 at the Oshima Shipyard, owned by Oshima Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., in Nagasaki, Japan.

MV Silviculture is a new building vessel registered under the Marshall Island flag. The vessel is manned by the competent crew of LHSM under the command of Capt. Ronaldo Agner and C/E Benedicto Carizal.

The officers and crew and MV Silviculture.

Travel restrictions due to the pandemic prevented the technical team of LHSM to be physically present during the delivery of the vessel but this was not a hindrance to the group. With the use of technology and the full support of the LHSM crew, all documentary requirements and necessary processes were accomplished remotely resulting in the efficient and timely delivery of the vessel.

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JEBSEN PTC EXPANDS SHIP MANAGEMENT AND CREW MANAGEMENT PORTFOLIO

The cape-sized bulk vessel Double Fantasy.

Jebsen PTC’s commitment to delivering top-caliber maritime professionals across the globe despite amid the ongoing pandemic continued to create positive ripples for the company.

In the first quarter of 2021, Jebsen PTC took over crewing management for Nicholas Stanford, a newly built bulk carrier vessel sailing under the Liberian flag.

Jebsen PTC also deployed top-caliber maritime professionals onboard 15 vessels under Bahri’s 87-strong fleet and is, in fact, set to crew seven more of Bahri’s vessels in the near future.

Jebsen PTC also recently took over the technical management and crew management operations for Double Fantasy, a cape-size bulk vessel built in 2011 sailing under the flag of Panama.

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LESSONS IN EXCELLENCE FROM PTC FOUNDER

AMBASSADOR CARLOS SALINAS

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mbassador Carlos Salinas shared his thoughts and insights on how service excellence continues to steer the growth of PTC throughout its 42-year history.

Recalling the company’s early days, Ambassador Salinas underpinned how he and co-founder Mrs. Isabelita Salinas set the vision of giving Filipinos an opportunity to become

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officers onboard at a time when there were only a handful of Filipino seafarers, majority of whom were sailing as ratings.

“We were committed to work hard to harness the potential of Filipinos in this industry,” he shared.

Drawing parallels between the ongoing challenges brought on by the pandemic and those of PTC’s early days, Ambassador Salinas reinforced that quality and reliable service is key to nurturing clients’ trust and confidence.

This is most evident in our ability to provide our clients with the people to man their vessels and partnering with our clients to develop the kind of maritime professionals that they need. “We have become known around the industry through the excellent work our seafarers are doing. Charterers, port inspectors, and classification societies who saw vessels being run so efficiently would find out Filipinos from PTC were manning them.”

Reflecting on how PTC has grown from its humble beginnings to what it is today, Ambassador Salinas acknowledged the important role each and every employee plays in the organization and its future. “Your every success enables us to develop more maritime careers and fuel the growth of the PTC Group as we continue to serve our clients and help provide a better life for our global Filipino professionals and their families.”

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SEAFARERS’ MENTAL HEALTH FROM THE DESK OF THE IMO AMBASSADOR CARLOS SALINAS

First published in The Manila Times on May 12, 2021

Click here to read

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MASTERING MARITIME FROM SEA TO SHORE:

A FEATURE ON PTC SHIP MANAGEMENT’S CAPT. RONALD ENRILE

First published in The Manila Times on May 26, 2021

Click here to read

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Scale model of the Galeón Espíritu Santo on display at the lobby of First Maritime Place, Makati.

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