Ten years ago, the Manila office opened to simplify and streamline seafarer documentation production. Starting with a team of four, the office initially served a dozen local crewing agents. After a decade of steady growth, the Manila office of International Registries, Inc. and its affiliates (IRI) has grown beyond its humble beginnings to become a true cornerstone of Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) Registry operations in Asia, supporting a wide range of Registry and administrative activities from corporate to radio.
“We opened the Manila office in 2015 to provide local service to Philippine-based crewing and manning agents,” said Annie Ng, Head of Asia, who helped open the office.
“Local processing significantly reduced the time required to process documentation requests, and reduced courier costs for the filing agents. We opened to save everyone time and money. Today we are so much more than that,” said Leo Boliver, Country Manager, Manila.
Today, the Manila office is the largest production center for seafarers’ documentation, contributing nearly a third of the global output. Nearly all applications from Philippine-based filing agents are processed locally thanks to strong relationships with more than100 local filing agents. Beyond seafarer services, Manila has expanded its expertise and versatility, adding team members in vessel registration, corporate registry support, IT, and radio services.
“We have an incredible team here in Manila, one that reflects the diverse nature of the local maritime economy and industry,” said Leo. “We are truly a problem-solving office for our clients, supporting a wide range of Registry services. Perhaps most importantly, we’ve expanded into the local sector as a partner, serving to support the next generation of maritime leaders and professionals in the Philippines.”
Commitment to the local community is a keystone of the Manila office and one that reflects the local culture. Annual team building activities, cherished holiday events, and monthly general meetings facilitate an environment of trust and collaboration. Local corporate social responsibility initiatives, such as community clean-ups, and sponsorship of scholarship and grants for young Filipino students, have built a strong sense of camaraderie.
“We are fully committed to this community, and that is important not only for our team members, but for our clients as well,” noted Leo. “It’s an ecosystem with close relationships, built on trust and respect. We bring a global perspective with local understanding.”
That perspective helps the office support the activities and discussions that are shaping the future of the Filipino maritime industry, such as the passage of the Magna Carta in 2024.
“The government saw an area of concern that needed to be addressed, not only to protect Filipino seafarers, but also to protect the industry,” noted Leo. “We work closely with stakeholders to contribute to the future-proofing of the industry.”
As the RMI Registry continues to grow, so will Manila’s role. The team’s ability to combine operational excellence with community spirit ensures it will remain a vital part of the organization’s success story for years to come.
“We’re not slowing down,” reflected Annie. “Leo has built a strong office and a strong team that is ready and resourced to meet the needs of tomorrow,” she concluded.
Manila celebrated its anniversary in October 2025. Please view pictures from the celebration here.
