In International Shipping News 02/01/2017
The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is maximizing efforts to the best it could, for the country to achieve compliance with the 1978 Standards of Training, Certification and Watch-keeping (STCW) Convention and Code for Seafarers, as amended.
In March next year, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) of the European Union (EU) is slated to conduct its seventh inspection audit of the country’s maritime agencies, including Marina, the various maritime schools training centers and facilities.
Since 2006, EMSA has, so far, conducted six inspection-audits. During the 2014 audit, EMSA found out some deficiencies in maritime education, training and facilities. From that time on, queries from concerned sectors here and abroad, poured in, asking if the country had passed or failed the audit. Unofficial news from irresponsible sources had it that the Philippines had failed the audit putting to drifting to brink of collapse renewal of work contracts of some 90,000 Filipino seafarers deployed aboard ships controlled by EU. On the other hand, a local maritime bimonthly magazine ran a story saying that the Philippines has passed the audit, quoting a statement from a high-ranking official from Marina-STCW Office, who strongly denied having issued such a statement. The said official readied criminal charges and damage suit against the magazine management.
In 2015, some deficiencies were reportedly cured, but EMSA did not categorically state if the Philippines passed or failed the audit. After a series meetings, EMSA came out with a stand that Philippine seafarers’ certifications were continuously recognized in EU. This came as a big hope for Filipino seafarers working on EU vessels as they were given big chance to continue working on board. Consequently, their families and dependents were also benefited by the EMSA stand.
Marina Administrator Dr. Marcial Q. C. Amaro III, at agency’s general assembly and Christmas party in Pasay City last Dec. 12, cited the gains of his watch as Marina chief for over five months now. Among these as good news are favorable and encouraging reaction and treatment to Marina by foreign counterparts, validated by his trips and visits to foreign maritime countries. “Good signs are up that favor factors ensuring the country’s compliance with STCW regulations. He also announced that a Marina program will be launched for career development and profession-enhancement in the agency, as well as the creation of new offices. Likewise, he said rightful work professionalization will be in place for Marina senior officers to be representatives, with ambassadorial rank to big maritime nations and world maritime agencies, like the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Recently, Amaro met with Norwegian Ambassador to the Philippines Erik Forner and his first secretary and mission deputy Kristian Netland at Marina central office in Manila. The conversation geared on favorable, continued assistance to Marina to ensure Philippine maritime education and training to be in compliance with STCW Convention and Code. According to Amaro’s head executive assistant Raymundo Cruz, Jr. the pleasantries included the advantages for Filipino officers and ratings learned from several maritime schools and maritime training centers established with Filipino and Norwegian principals in recent years. Cruz said the Norwegian Maritime Training Center in Manila continuously trains Filipino merchant mariners for Norwegian vessels.
Source: Manila Bulletin
