THE Philippine maritime industry is often associated with the more established and lucrative sector of seafaring. Trailing in its wake are the widely diverse sectors of fishing, aquaculture, domestic shipping, ship registry, maritime safety and security, and shipbuilding.

While the industry operates as a whole, it is on the latter that the world's environmental future relies. Shipbuilding now sits at the heart of maritime innovation to lessen and eventually eliminate greenhouse gas emissions from ships. According to a study by the International Maritime Organization, shipping contributes to climate change through emissions of black carbon produced by the combustion of marine fuel.