Those who think that all’s well with the Philippines’ maritime education and training (MET) system cannot be more wrong. A letter from the European Community Shipowners Association (ECSA) to its members dated 1st October 2012 bolsters our view that the world’s top crew supplier is not yet over the hump. It was sent out ahead of the 16th November meeting of the European Commission’s Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS). Filipinos should have no illusions: EU shipowners and the EC itself may be sympathetic but the pressure is on.
The ECSA internal memo is most timely. The forthcoming COSS meeting will take up, amongst other matters, outstanding deficiencies in the way Filipino MET establishments are administered by the State in the framework of the STCW (International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers). ECSA has directed its member associations from the EU and Norway to touch base with their Philippine contacts with the end in view of urging the Manila Government to correct the shortcomings pronto.
ECSA’s sense of urgency isn’t surprising. As we’ve stated in several previous articles, the consolidation of STCW-related functions in the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) is a step forward. However, it does not address the central issue – the failure of the Philippine authorities to properly supervise the maritime schools. The lack of State oversight actually comprises the real gist of the ECSA letter as seen in these excerpts:
What we cannot understand is why ECSA insists that the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) postpone additional checks in the Philippines to the autumn of 2013 (September in the Northern Hemisphere) from the first half of next year. All that the MARINA and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) have to do is adopt a valid assessment document instead of using what we’ve called the “grocery list” for the evaluation of MET institutions. They should also start developing an in-house expertise on STCW instead of relying on so-called consultants from the private sector. Without such measures, how can there be any government “oversight”?
Fixing the problem will not require eternity to pull off. It only takes a little discernment and plenty of will to do what needs to be done.
By Barista Uno
Source: Marine Cafe Blog
