EC recognises seafarers’ certificates from Ghana and Uruguay

Seafarers’ certificates according to Directive 2008/106/EC

On 9 February, the European Commission implemented a decision to recognise seafarers’ certificates from Ghana and Uruguay and EU Member States may therefore now decide whether to endorse seafarers’ certificates obtained in these third countries.

Cyprus had requested the recognition of certificates issued by Ghana in May 2005 and Spain had requested the recognition of Uruguayan certificates in February 2006.

According to Directive 2008/106/EC on the minimum level of training for seafarers, Member States may decide to endorse seafarers’ appropriate certificates issued by third countries, provided that the third country concerned is recognised by the Commission. Those third countries have to meet all the requirements of the IMO STCW Convention (1978) as revised in 1995.

As part of the recognition procedure the European Maritime Safety Agency inspected training facilities in Ghana and Uruguay. Based on the Agency’s report, these countries corrected certain previously identified deficiencies in relation to training standards. While minor shortcomings remain, the Commission maintains that they do not warrant calling into question the overall level of compliance of Ghana and Uruguay with STCW.

With regard to Ghana, the first shortcoming concerns the fact that it does not fully ensure that seagoing service carried out in the navy or on pilot ships is actually relevant for the competencies required for certification. The other relates to deficiencies in fire-fighting training and equipment levels at maritime training institutions.

With respect to Uruguay, the first shortcoming relates to the fact that the quality standards system does not cover some of the activities of the administration, such as the approval of training programmes. The other shortcoming pertains to the format of certificates.

A copy of the implementing decision for Ghana can be downloaded by clicking here. The implementing decision for Uruguay is available here.

Source : INTERTANKO