Filipino seafarers' education and training make progress The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has lauded what it calls significant steps being taken by the Philippine government to address concerns of the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) about Filipino seafarers' education and training.IMO Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu said the government has taken seriously comments made by other countries about the training of Filipino seafarers, as well as the EMSA's audit findings, and responded with very positive steps."I believe the Philippine government will properly address the concerns of EMSA. I am assured by the Maritime Industry Authority, Department of Labor and Employment the Department of Transportation and Communication that they are attuned in a way to produce a single voice of the government," Sekimizu said."I understand the difficulty of handling various agencies, it is not an easy task for the government," he added.Maritime industry stakeholders have been pushing for a single maritime STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) Administration to ensure the correct interpretation and implementation of provisions of the Manila Amendments of the International Convention on Seafarers' Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping, or Seafarers' Convention.Sekimizu said positive steps have been made, including a review of the certification and educational system for ...
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