EMSA highlights the importance of seafarers’ education and training, commenting that although many seafarers operating in EU waters were educated, trained and certified in Europe, it is important to note that EU registered ships are often crewed by seafarers who are not nationals of EU Member States.
Specifically, EMSA has given two tasks in this respect: inspections to non-EU countries and visits to Member States.
The EU legislation through Directive 2008/106/EC issued a specific procedure in regards to the assessment of compliance with the requirements of the International Maritime Organization’s STCW Convention (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) by non-EU countries is conducted by the European Commission for a wider recognition of their certificates of competency by EU Member States.
It is commented that
This fact needs to be taken into account when determining the best ways of ensuring that crew members on board EU registered ships are appropriately educated and trained.
The inspections conducted by EMSA are the basis of the assessments.
Prior to travelling to a selected country or EU Member State, EMSA inspectors conduct a detailed analysis of the relevant national provisions adopted to implement the STCW Convention or the above mentioned Directive. When arriving in the country, the plan that is already agreed with the national authorities, involves visits to different parts of the national administrations responsible for setting-up and maintaining the maritime education, training and certification system of seafarers.
The overall target of EMSA is to have annually accurate information on the number of seafarers available to be employed on EU registered vessels and information on all countries where they were educated, trained and certified.