PTC Executive Director for Business Development and Senior Vice President of the Cruise Division, Ms. Karen Avelino, represented the Philippine Association of Maritime Training Centers, Inc. (PAMTCI) as one of the featured speakers at the Wärtsilä Simulation User Conference held on November 10, 2025, at Solaire Resort in Paranque.

The event gathered maritime leaders, regulators, and training experts for a full day of discussions on Wärtsilä’s latest simulation technologies designed to support the evolving needs of the global maritime training industry. In her address titled “Digital by Design, Driven by Decarbonisation,” Ms. Avelino highlighted the rapid transition shaping the maritime world, noting that digitalization and decarbonisation are redefining ship operations, ship design, and workforce competencies. “These forces demand a new kind of seafarer—digital, adaptable, environmentally responsible, and future-ready,” she said. For the Philippines, she emphasized, preparing seafarers for these shifts is both a national responsibility and a strategic opportunity.

Ms. Avelino also underscored PAMTCI’s critical role in aligning the Philippines’ maritime training system with global standards. She explained the interconnected roles of IMO, MARINA, and PAMTCI in defining, enforcing, and actualizing training requirements, while highlighting how local institutions are integrating advanced simulators, AI-enabled learning platforms, and updated curricula to meet rising demand for digital and green competencies. “These are not future dreams—these are ships already sailing today,” she noted, referring to vessels powered by LNG, methanol, hybrid systems, and other emerging technologies.

Looking to the future, Ms. Avelino outlined PAMTCI’s vision for a training ecosystem that is digitally empowered, green by design, globally benchmarked, and industry-connected. She emphasized that the advancement of the maritime workforce requires collective effort across regulators, shipowners, training institutions, and technology partners. “Together, we will ensure that Filipino seafarers remain—digital by design, globally competitive, and ready for a decarbonised world,” she concluded.