TURTLE was back in Manila to attend Seatrade Maritime Crew Connect Global 2026, where our Head of Commercial Alexander Held spoke on The Seafarer Relationship in Transition. The conference took place from 20 to 22 October with more than 750 maritime professionals.
Alexander explained that seafarers are better informed than ever and have more choice, above all experienced candidates. That puts shipping companies in the spotlight: for a seafarer, the relationship is one journey from the first impression to the next contract, and every step should feel like it comes from the same company. Communication. Trust. Fair conditions.
The Responsible Maritime Recruitment Toolkit, developed by IHRB and TURTLE, was a finalist for the Industry Partner Award at the Crew Connect Global Awards. It gives shipping companies a five-phase way to start tackling recruitment fees. Discover it here: https://responsible-maritime-recruitment.ihrb.org/
Ahead of the conference, we also attended the event “Seafarers’ Rights – What’s Working, What’s Not, What’s Next”, hosted by the Rafto Foundation for Human Rights and the Philippines Norway Business Council and moderated by IHRB.
Thank you to Seatrade Maritime, the Rafto Foundation, IHRB and everyone we met in Manila.