Educating youth and crew about marine biodiversity
| TRAINING ACTIVITIES IN 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Number of individuals educated through the Sea Adventure School trips | 1,693 |
The Stairway Foundation, a charity based in Puerto Galera, Philippines, is a leading advocate for environmental awareness and community-based protection. Through the Marshall Foundation, Berge Bulk’s philanthropic sister organisation, we have proudly sponsored their Sea Adventure School for over a decade.
The Sea Adventure School offers immersive marine education for local youth aboard the Berge Apo, a floating classroom named after one of our own vessels. Each year, over 1,000 students board the Berge Apo to study the interconnectedness of mangroves, seagrass, and coral reefs. This curriculum, endorsed by the Philippines’ National Department of Education, is vital for fostering a generation of ocean stewards.
In 2025, the programme achieved significant reach, conducting 61 trips for 1,693 individuals. Since 2013, the Marshall Foundation has contributed over USD $1 million to support the sustained growth of these initiatives. Beyond financial support, we maintain a personal connection to the cause; each year, we send a group of our own Filipino seafarers to visit the foundation and experience the Sea Adventure School first-hand — bridging the gap between our industry and local marine conservation.
19 Berge Bulk Colleagues Involved
In October 2022, a team of 19 Berge Bulk colleagues — including 10 Junior Officers, 5 Senior Officers, and 4 shore team members — joined the Sea Adventure School and experienced first-hand the importance of marine ecosystems such as coral reefs, seagrass, and mangroves. As part of the programme, participants also cleaned up a local mangrove forest that was congested with rubbish. Feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and we hope to do more trips in 2023.
