Senior Officers’ Conference in Manila

More than 125 participants attended, including senior officers, customers and maritime partners. Together, they focused on safety, wellbeing, operational discipline and the future of shipping. Two-time Olympic gold medallist Carlos Yulo joined the conference as our special guest speaker.

How do we prepare our seafarers for an industry changing faster than ever?

That question shaped our Senior Officers’ Conference in Manila last week.

The conference was an important opportunity to strengthen the connection between ship and shore. The programme addressed issues that affect seafarers and vessel operations every day. These included safe working practices, personal wellbeing, professional development and changes across the maritime industry.

Turning Onboard Experience into Action

Opening the conference, Angad Banga, Group Chief Executive Officer, The Caravel Group, and Executive Director, Fleet Management Limited, spoke about the important role senior officers play in supporting safe and reliable vessel operations.

His address set the direction for a programme focused on listening to seafarers, strengthening ship-to-shore dialogue and preparing our people for change.

The conference was designed as a two-way conversation. Senior officers shared what they experience onboard, where challenges arise and how shore teams can support them more effectively.

During a session ‘Experiences from a Sailing Master’, seafarers explored how company policies work in day-to-day vessel operations. The discussion highlighted where guidance works well and where further support may be needed.

Seafarers are often the first to see emerging risks and practical challenges. Listening to them helps us act earlier, improve our guidance and make decisions based on the realities of life at sea.

This shared understanding strengthens the connection between ship and shore. We provide the systems, training and support our vessels need. Senior officers turn these into action through sound judgement, clear communication and consistent leadership onboard.

By turning seafarers’ experience into action, we support safer voyages, more reliable performance and better care for the vessels entrusted to us.

Investing in Filipino Seafarers

Capt. Raja Subramaniam, Chief Executive Officer, Fleet Management Limited, spoke about the importance of keeping ship and shore connected.

Decisions should not be made far from where the work takes place. By listening to seafarers, we gain a clearer view of onboard challenges, identify risks earlier and make better informed decisions.

Bringing insights from our vessels into the boardroom helps us stay focused on safe voyages, reliable performance and controlled risk.

Capt. Raja also recognised the vital contribution Filipino seafarers make to our global operations. Today, more than 1,800 Filipino seafarers serve across around 150 Fleet managed vessels.

Behind these figures are skilled professionals whose knowledge, commitment and judgement support safe and reliable operations every day.

Our seafarer pool in the Philippines is presently more than 4,000-strong and growing. This reflects the depth of the country’s maritime talent, and the important role Filipino seafarers continue to play in Fleet’s success.

Our commitment goes beyond recruitment. We are building careers, developing future maritime leaders and preparing seafarers for a changing industry.

Our Manila training hub provides a dedicated place for learning, collaboration and professional development. We are also enhancing our simulator capabilities to support training in dual-fuel operations and fuel management.

This will give seafarers practical experience with complex systems before they use them at sea.

More than 1,700 seafarers across our global pool have already completed dual-fuel training. By combining onboard experience with focused learning, we are helping our people build lasting careers and prepare for the next generation of vessels.

A Champion’s Perspective

Special guest speaker, Carlos Yulo, shared the small habits that support long-term performance.

Looking after yourself, he explained, is part of being a professional. Good sleep, balanced nutrition and proper recovery help people stay focused and perform consistently.

His advice for life at sea was to start with ten minutes of exercise and build from there. Small steps are easier to maintain and can lead to lasting change when repeated each day.

Carlos also stressed that nobody succeeds alone. Support from colleagues, friends and family helps people overcome setbacks and keep improving.

His message was simple: start small and start today.

Looking After Our People

Health and wellbeing were key themes throughout the conference. Seafarers work in demanding environments, often far from medical care. Prevention, early action and access to support are essential.

We continue to strengthen our pre-joining medical screening process. This helps us identify health risks earlier and ensure each seafarer joins a vessel fit, healthy and ready for duty.

Our wider approach includes Care 360 and support for seafarers and their families. These services are designed to make help easier to access, both at sea and onshore.

Personal responsibility is equally important. Regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, enough rest and attention to psychological health all support sound judgement and safe performance at sea.

A vessel cannot perform at its best if its people are not at their best. By looking after our seafarers, we protect their health, support lasting careers and contribute to safer voyages and more reliable vessel operations.

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