Karen Avelino, PTC Executive Director for Business Development – Shipping and Senior Vice President for Cruise Operations, represented PTC, MSCCS, and RCM at the CSAM Forum 2026 on May 12, held at Okada Manila. Organized by the Association of Licensed Manning Agencies (ALMA), the forum gathered maritime stakeholders, including manning agencies, shipowners, labor groups, government agencies, and seafarer organizations, to strengthen awareness and compliance against Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM) in the maritime industry.

Discussions highlighted the increasing global scrutiny on CSAM-related offenses and their severe consequences for seafarers, including criminal prosecution, deportation, visa cancellation, and permanent bans in certain countries. The forum emphasized stricter screening, mandatory awareness programs, and stronger onboard policies to ensure compliance with international laws and protect the reputation of Filipino seafarers.

In her speech, Ms. Avelino stressed the shared responsibility of the maritime sector in promoting ethical conduct and legal compliance. “Our responsibility is not only to deploy competent seafarers, but also to promote responsible behavior, professionalism, and compliance with both Philippine and international laws,” she said.

She underscored the seriousness of CSAM offenses, noting their global legal implications. “Possessing, downloading, sharing, or distributing CSAM can lead to imprisonment, deportation, blacklisting, and permanent damage to one’s career and reputation,” she added, emphasizing the need for awareness given stricter international enforcement and digital investigation capabilities.

Ms. Avelino also reaffirmed confidence in Filipino seafarers, highlighting that awareness efforts are preventive rather than punitive. “These reminders are not meant to create fear or suspicion, but to guide seafarers so they can perform their duties responsibly and without unnecessary risk,” she said.

She outlined PTC’s ongoing initiatives, including integrating CSAM awareness into PDOS, onboard briefings, onboarding documentation, and planned cyber ethics training covering digital responsibility, cybercrime laws, and reporting mechanisms.

She concluded by reaffirming the industry’s shared duty to protect both seafarers and vulnerable communities. “Every organization in the maritime industry has a role in ensuring such acts are never tolerated,” she said. “We remain committed to strengthening our programs to develop responsible professionals both online and offline.”

The CSAM Forum 2026 signals the start of a broader industry-wide campaign to harmonize awareness and compliance standards across Philippine manning agencies, reinforcing ethical responsibility and global maritime integrity.