On 22nd November this year, the European Commission lifted the ban on Georgian seafarers. Three years earlier, it had withdrawn EU recognition of Georgia’s crew certificates because the national authorities failed to effectively monitor the maritime schools and address the problem of forged certificates. The ban was bitter medicine but it benefited the patient. Could a similar ban have the same effect on the Philippines?
No crew-supplying country wants to suffer the fate of Georgia. And yet, there was an upside. Following the 2010 derecognition, the European Commission helped the country align its system of training and certification of seafarers with the international standards. In the process, the Georgians benefited from several EU-funded projects such as SASEPOL2 and TAIEX3.
In September 2012 Georgia requested the Commission to recognise its certificates anew. A re-assessment conducted the following month by EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) found that the country had completely redrafted its legislation and taken measures to prevent fraudulent certificates. The ban had forced Georgia to finally put its house in order.
The case of the Philippines is more problematic for the Commission and EU member states. After the 2013 EMSA audit, the Commission is confronted not just with the economic repercussions of a possible ban. The tough question: is such bitter medicine the only way to treat the disorder?
All eyes are now on the doctor. ~Barista Uno
FOOTNOTE: Our contact in Georgia says the 2010 ban so angered the Georgian leadership that the maritime bureaucracy was overhauled top to bottom. Even senior Port State Control officials were fired.
Please feel free to comment on this article. You may also like:
A cat’s view of EMSA’s Philippines audit
Ship manning and the illusion of power
Each and every government officials must respect and follow the mandate of IMO Convention no more no less than its real intents and purposes. The problems here in the Philippines was that, the government officials were using IMO Convention to exploit seafarers. On the other hand, seafarers per se rejected their Constitutional right and freedom but keep on complaining to himself.
Whether or not a similar ban to Georgia’s can benefit the Philippines resides with the integrity of the government. Perhaps Georgia will be an eye opener..but case studies on their own rarely affect change. Firing a few people might, putting thousands out of work would have a huge impact worldwide.. but only those inside know if that would really stop such ingrained corruption.
Not all medicines are effective to patients with the same medical problems. Even if deficiencies were rectified, a country that has experienced an EU ban will still have an image that will linger on forever.