UV gets commendation from EMSA

CEBU, Philippines - The University of the Visayas was commended recently by the European Maritime Safety Agency which is based in Lisbon, Portugal. EMSA, which is charged with reducing the risk of maritime accidents, marine pollution, and loss of human lives at sea, emphasized that UV has satisfactorily completed the requirements of the Agency’s Quality Management System.

EMSA Auditors Dr. Jaime Veiga, Project Officer, and Dr. Dominique Laurent observed that UV has shown a significant degree of quality improvement since the last EMSA visit in 2006. The competence of UV maritime instructors, the qualifications of management, the maintenance systems and review and redirection of the curriculum are the dimensions of excellence attributed to UV.

With this development, the University of the Visayas is identified as a contributor to the consistent inclusion of the Philippines in the White List of countries that have been determined by the International Maritime Organization to be in full compliance with the 1995 amendments to Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping of Seafarers (STCW). It is an assurance that UV Maritime graduates, along with other Filipino seafarers, can thus be accepted in international fleets.

Sources close to UV have relayed the information that over and above compliance with requirements, the University works through Dr. Benilda Q. Gadin, Quality Management Representative, to acquire state-of-the-art equipment for Maritime Training.

UV was also featured in the June 2010 issue of the EMSA Newsletter. – PR (THE FREEMAN)