What if a Rena-style accident were to occur in EU territory with a Filipino master at the helm? The question may seem unfair to folks in Manila. After all, as the saga of the Costa Concordia illustrates, even Italian masters can commit grievous errors. But we’d be surprised if the question has not entered the minds of the European Commission (EC) officials who will decide on whether to withdraw recognition of Filipino seafarer certificates or not. The whole issue boils down to marine safety; it has nothing, or should have nothing, to do with nationality.
Fortunately, there’s no dearth of sympathy for the Philippines within the Commission. One strong indication is that the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) team was in Manila recently upon instructions from the EC – their third visit since 2006. Contrary to news reports, the EMSA people spent a week in the Philippine capital not to inspect any MET (maritime education and training) institution but to meet with national authorities concerned with enforcing the STCW standards. They did visit two maritime training centres but it was only to look into how these organisations were conducting the MLC (management level course).
It should be clear by now that what matters to EMSA and the EC itself is not only the general state of Philippine MET but the whole system of local MET governance. The EMSA team is to submit another report to the Commission based on what they saw and heard during their 7th-15th March visit. A decision could be forthcoming when the EC meets sometime in July (an EC meeting is also scheduled for April but that may be too soon to decide on the Philippine case). Before then, it seems entirely possible that the EMSA folks may be back in town to conduct a final inspection.
If ever the EC gives the country a thumbs up, it would be because EC officials are totally convinced that the Philippine authorities concerned have shaped up and are now doing a proper job of supervising local maritime schools and training centres. There’s no other way. Cosmetic changes in the local MET system won’t do – certainly not in light of what happened in New Zealand on 5th October 2011. For sure, the Philippines continues to produce many fine ship officers, and the Rena grounding is no reflection on their competence. But for anyone in Manila to think that Filipino seafarers are indispensable is plain arrogance. It will not serve Filipino interests ~Barista Uno
Correct. Those of us old enough will remember when the regulatory system was so corrupt that the industry put a ‘glass ceiling’ on Filipino seafarers, the industry made all sorts of special dispensations, including giving Filipinos special treatment and hiring management consultants to teach managers and masters how to deal with Filipino culture – something they never did with any other nationality. Those days are gone. Filipinos will be treated the same way as anyone else. That means the regulatory bodies have to get with the programme.
Well said Uno. I believe that the Filipinos, and especially their local METs and stakeholders know what is good for them and how to take good care of it. At the end of it all, it is all about jobs, investments (ROIs) and the pride of the great country that supplies most seafarers for the international shipping industry.
Over the past decade complacency ruled. That has to change. The responsible government agencies have to prove that they can administer effectively. The PMI TRO puts the ability of the relevant agencies in doubt. It is a case of short-term corporate benefit outweighing the country’s good.