Mombasa: The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) proposed the development of a dedicated mobile application for seafarers that would give them direct access to emergency assistance, real-time security alerts, and government support during a recent high-level international meeting. In a statement on Tuesday, MARINA Enforcement Service Director Luisito Delos Santos said the proposed app would serve as a direct communication channel between seafarers and government authorities, which is vital to disseminate critical advisories and report emergencies while at sea.

According to Philippines News Agency, the initiative was prompted by the increasing security challenges confronting seafarers operating in areas affected by piracy, armed conflict, geopolitical tensions, and other maritime threats. The proposal was presented by MARINA during the High-Level Meeting of the 4th Steering Committee of the Indo-Pacific Regional Information Sharing (IORIS) Platform held in Mombasa, Kenya, from June 9 to 11.

During the meeting, the Philippine delegation cited recent incidents in the Red Sea and other high-risk maritime corridors and highlighted that seafarers are often among the first to experience the impact of maritime disruptions, yet may have limited access to timely information and assistance. To address these risks, the proposed app would provide navigational advisories, maritime security notifications, welfare-related information, and emergency reporting features.

In addition, seafarers will be able to directly communicate with relevant government agencies through the app when immediate assistance is needed. MARINA's proposal was also supported by the European Union's Critical Maritime Routes project that aims to enhance maritime security, cooperation, and information sharing across the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

During the meeting, maritime authorities and security agencies also discussed ways to strengthen regional maritime cooperation and information sharing. The Philippines is also implementing electronic certificates for seafarers under MARINA's digitalization initiatives that are in line with international standards.