This study examines the compliance of a Metro Manila-based manning agency with the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) guidelines, specifically the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) 2006. The research focuses on the effectiveness of crewing services and their alignment with international standards. Survey results suggests strong agreement (M=4.59) that crewing managers effectively fulfill their responsibilities, particularly in overseeing medical requirements, travel arrangements, and compliance with flag state laws. The highest-rated responsibilities were compliance with flag state laws (M=4.66) and managing travel arrangements (M=4.67). Further analysis assesses the alignment of agency practices with MLC 2006 standards, yielding a strong overall mean score (M=4.59). Key compliance areas, such as the absence of recruitment fees and certificate validation, were rated highly, while placement services received a slightly lower rating (M=4.44), indicating room for improvement. Regression analysis confirms that alignment with MLC 2006 standards significantly predicts the fulfillment of agency obligations (R²=0.67, p<0.001), whereas mere compliance does not (β=0.044, p=0.462). This suggests that agencies must integrate international frameworks into operations rather than only meeting local regulatory minimums. Future research should explore how these standards influence agency performance in various maritime contexts. In conclusion, the studied manning agency demonstrates strong compliance with ICS and MLC 2006 guidelines, distinguishing it from other agencies facing recruitment inefficiencies and workforce retention challenges.
manning agency, shipping compliance, maritime labor convention
Sep A. Cabangon. Corresponding author. Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty member, Asian Institute of Maritime Studies. Email: sacabangon@aims.edu.ph
Dhuff Mattheus Ortiz. Master in Psychology, Research Head, Asian Institute of Maritime Studies. Email: dvortiz@aims.edu.ph
"All authors equally contributed to the conception, design, preparation, data gathering and analysis, and writing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript."
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).
This work was not supported by any funding.
Institutional Review Board Statement This study was conducted in accordance with the ethical guidelines set by Asian Institute of Maritime Studies.
AI tools were not used in writing this paper.
The authors would like to thank Dr. Victor Cajala for his insights on the development of the questionnaire and Dr. Franco Quodala for his insights in the methodology section and the completion of the results and discussion.
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Cite this article:
Cabangon, S.A. & Ortiz, D.M. (2025). Crewing services of manning companies in the Philippines: A review of compliance to International Chamber of Shipping Manning Agency Guidelines. International Journal of Academe and Industry Research, 6(2), 151-170. https://doi.org/10.53378/ijair.353213
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