Philippines administration to report back to EC every three months
At the Committee on the Safety of the Sea (COSS) held 23 April, EU Member States endorsed the recommendation from the European Commission not to de-recognise Filipino seafarer certificates of competency. Instead, the Philippines administration will report back to the EC every three months.
Additionally, European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) will continue to undertake inspections to ensure continued compliance. Coupled with this will be technical assistance provided by EU member States to the Philippines in ensuring that they are able to comply with their obligations.
This is outcome is welcomed, providing the balance between an outright ban and a clean bill of health. The additional monitoring and technical assistance will provide the added assurance owners need when sourcing seafarers from the Philippines.
Source: Intertanko
