EU to rule on Phl seafarers' hiring next month

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s decision on whether the Philippines is complying with the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) is expected to come out next month, with an unfavorable outcome seen to stop shipping firms from hiring Filipino seamen.

The EU monitored and investigated the Philippines starting in 2006 and reported in 2009 that the Philippines’ implementation of the STCW, an International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention adopted by the EU, was not enough.

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), which conducted its own investigation of Philippine maritime schools, and reported on the gross deficiencies of the schools’ courses. Based on a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) report, the Philippine Maritime Institute (PMI) was among the original 15 maritime schools identified by EMSA to be deficient.

The Philippines submitted its reply to EMSA’s report in August.

Sources at the Philippine embassy here said the Philippines would not want an EU recommendation to European shipowners not to hire Filipino seafarers if the decision is unfavorable. The companies will have to follow an EU decision and directive instead of paying penalties.

CHED said PMI’s marine transportation and marine engineering courses were ordered shut down since it was found deficient in 2006. These deficiencies had not been corrected since the first closure order was served on PMI last May, CHED said.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment, Filipino seafarers make up approximately 30 percent of the world’s maritime manpower requirements and they contributed about 25 percent of the remittances in 2010.

Meanwhile, the Philippines was re-elected to the Council of the IMO under Category C last Nov. 25 during the 27th regular session of the IMO Assembly held in London, a city traditionally considered the center of global shipping.

Category C is a group of 20 governments representing all major geographical areas of the world that have special interests in maritime transport and investigation. Categories A and B represent countries with the biggest interests in shipping. – With Rainier Allan Ronda