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The Maritime Industry Authority reported 24,278 Philippine-registered ships in 2025, 7.2% higher than the 22,640 recorded in 2024
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Of the total, about half were for fishing and recreation, and a quarter were for passengers and cargo
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MARINA also recorded a 3.4% hike in accredited domestic shipping enterprises/companies in 2025 to 3,546
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MARINA issued 813 Certificates of Public Convenience in 2025, 171% higher than the 300 issued in 2024
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MARINA also recorded 205 maritime incidents in 2025, lower than the 253 in 2024
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) reported 24,278 Philippine-registered ships in 2025, 7.2% higher than the 22,640 recorded in 2024.
Of the total, about one-third or 8,673 were fishing boats; 7,129 recreational; 4,138 passenger vessels; 2,067 cargo vessels; 1,585 tugs, dredgers, and barges; 388 special purpose vessels; and 235 tankers, according to MARINA’s 2025 statistical report.
The increase was due to higher numbers in most types of ships, except for passenger and cargo vessels that were each 7% lower than in 2024.
Of the 510 new registered ships in 2025, 399 were locally constructed, 91 imported, 17 were local sales, and three were for bareboat chartering in.
The average gross tonnage of ships in 2025 was 251.13 gross tons (GT), higher than the 244.3 GT in 2024. The average age of vessels remains at 13 years old.
MARINA in 2025 also approved the importation of 429 vessels with a total cost of US$244.42 million, lower than the 486 in 2024 with a total cost of $342.11 million.
Among the approved importations for 2025 were 49 cargo vessels, 37 tugs and dredgers, 23 fishing vessels, and 21 passenger ships.
MARINA also recorded a total of 3,546 accredited domestic shipping enterprises/companies in 2025, 3.4% higher than the 3,438 in 2024.
READ: PH sees more maritime firms but shrinking overseas fleet capacity
There were also 214 maritime enterprises accredited under Memorandum Circular (MC) No. DS-2020-02 (revised rules on the accreditation of maritime enterprises) in 2025, up from 180 in 2024. Of the total, 93 were ship agencies, 65 were in ship management, 40 were in allied services, 11 in importation and trading, and five in ship chandling.
MARINA also issued 71 special permits to foreign-registered ships to temporarily operate within Philippine territorial waters in 2025, lower than the 103 special permits issued in 2024.
Approved bareboat charters last year were 22.9% lower year-on-year at 27, bulk of which or 23 were still cargo vessels, two tugs/dredgers, one passenger vessel, and one miscellaneous ship. All approved were for bareboat chartering in and no bareboat chartering out.
READ: MARINA renews push for ship registry, shipbuilding bills as priority
MARINA also issued 813 Certificates of Public Convenience (CPC) in 2025, 171% higher than the 300 in 2024. Approved CPC renewals, meanwhile, were 33.8% lower at 237 from 358 in 2024.
Maritime incidents
MARINA also recorded 205 maritime incidents in 2025, lower than the 253 in 2024.
Grounding had the biggest number of incidents last year at 70, followed by engine trouble/mechanical failure (42), ramming/collision/allision (38), man overboard/occupational incident (14), fire/explosion (13), sinking (9), listing/capsizing (8), steering failure (5), swamping/flooding (4), and hull failure (2).
Majority or 127 of the recorded incidents are considered serious, which are cases that do not qualify as very serious that involve fire, explosion, grounding, contact, heavy weather damage, structural damage, pollution (regardless of quantity) and breakdown towage, or shore assistance.
Nineteen were very serious or were cases that involved either total loss of ship, loss of life, or severe damage to the marine environment, while the rest were less serious.
Of the total, 105 incidents involved passenger ships, followed by cargo ships (77), barges (32), fishing vessels (18), tugs (17), recreational ships (13), and tankers (12).
There were 26 human casualties due to incidents last year, higher than the 23 in 2024.
READ: MARINA launches random checks of ships nationwide
Following recent accidents, MARINA earlier said it is launching a nationwide validation inspection of domestic ships to directly address and focus on safety areas identified as root causes of maritime accidents. The inspection also aims to establish a uniform national framework for validation inspection and enforcement actions.— Roumina Pablo
