The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has lauded what it calls significant steps being taken by the Philippine government to address concerns of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) about Filipino seafarers' education and training.

IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said the government has taken seriously comments made by other countries about the training of Filipino seafarers, as well as the EMSA's audit findings, and responded with very positive steps.

"I believe the Philippine government will properly address the concerns of EMSA. I am assured by the Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Labor and Employment the Department of Transportation and Communication that they are attuned in a way to produce a single voice of the government," Sekimizu said.

"I understand the difficulty of handling various agencies, it is not an easy task for the government," he added.

Maritime industry stakeholders have been pushing for a single maritime STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Administration to ensure the correct interpretation and implementation of provisions of the Manila Amendments of the International Convention on Seafarers' Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, or Seafarers' Convention.

Sekimizu said positive steps have been made, including a review of the certification and educational system for seafarers.

"It is up to the Filipino government to improve or to create any new mechanism to keep up with standard. STCW is only one set of international regulation or standard," Sekimizu said.

"This is no other international regime, it is up to the member government to apply," he said.

If the review process of the IMO identified any problem, then IMO will not hesitate to comment to the government on what needs to be rectified, he said.

The EMSA plans to visit the country next month to inspect the Maritime Training Center and assess compliance with international standards for training and certification of seafarers.

The earlier findings and observations by EMSA highlighted the need to have a functioning maritime administration that will effectively monitor the implementation and compliance with the STCW Convention.

The STCW Convention provides a basis for the EU member states to recognize certificates of seafarers from non-EU countries.

The STCW Convention is a maritime safety instrument that sets the global standard for training and certification of seafarers in the overseas shipping trade under the auspices of the IMO.

The IMO, which oversees shipping safety and monitors maritime pollution, views training and education of seafarers as indispensable elements of crew competence, the software component of maritime safety.

Source: Malaya Business Insight