Following discussions with various stakeholders the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has announced that it will continue to recognize STCW certificates (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) issued by Philippines-based training providers after the country’s president confirmed it would address decades-long problems with his country’s seafarer training systems.
The EU had been for many years concerned about both the quality and consistency of training. Already in December 2021, the Commission reviewed the training and certification system. Subsequently, the Commission informed the Philippine authorities that if no action was taken, the recognition of their seafarer certificates would be withdrawn. One of these measures is to comply with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers (STCW). Since then, the Philippines has made serious efforts to comply with the requirements, in particular in key areas like the monitoring, supervision and evaluation of training and assessment.
In the coming months, the EU Commission intends to provide the Philippines with technical assistance to further improve its education, training and certification system for seafarers. It has also been confirmed that representatives from the ITF, shipowners’ association ICS, and other industry bodies will form the new ‘International Advisory Committee on Global Maritime Affairs’ (IACGMA). Its first task will be to advise on the training and certification reforms needed, but it will also face dealing with a multitude of government ministries and agencies on complex maritime sector issues.
Further details can be found on the press site of the EU FOD Mobility and Transport, accessible through following link:
https://transport.ec.europa.eu/news/maritime-transport-commission-continues-recognise-filipino-seafarers-certificates-2023-03-31_en
