A team from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) came to town recently. It was their third visit to Manila since 2006. However, we’re surprised that the nature of EMSA and what it does are still not understood by many in the world’s crewing capital. We still hear dense remarks from those who should know better, such as “the Philippines is on the IMO’s white list, so why should EMSA inspect our maritime schools?” Or “the best proof of STCW compliance is that EU countries continue to hire Filipino ship officers.”
Some of the locals even resent what they claim to be foreign interference in the country’s internal affairs. That view is born of ignorance, of course. The EU continues to keep a tight watch on agricultural shipments from the Philippines and other countries for any violation of its tough health regulations. In 2010, it banned Philippine and Sudanese carriers from starting flights to EU member countries on the grounds that they do not meet international safety standards. The EMSA visits boil down to the issue of maritime safety. The sooner the folks in Manila realise this, the better for the maritime education and training (MET) establishment and Filipino seafarers.
A video pulled from YouTube can be found in our homepage (“Watch and Listen”). It provides a quick look at EMSA and the reason for its visits and inspections. Further information is available from the EMSA website that should lead to a better understanding of the agency. But who’ll bother to check it out? Many local maritime executives love to grandstand and make an opinion. There was furor over the EMSA report on the Philippines when it first came to light. Yet few had actually read the text.
Something is terribly amiss. ~Barista Uno
Dear Barista,
You hit the nail right on the head! The same has always been the local shipping and MET industry attitude to the ITF, the USCG and other institutions regarding maritime safety and labor concerns. Too strict, they say. It is about time that we accept the fact that we have too many maritime agencies with conflicting decisions; two sets of STCW standards; properly untrained maritime government employees; and what-nots. 1994 to the present is a long wait for our maritime schools to comply with correct standards, not the “grocery list” that they use as standards in inspecting schools. And the MTC – have they come up with a “valid & reliable assessment” document for training centers and seafarers?
Dear Barista,
Thanks for speaking out – I’ve tried to follow this issue, too and it has been a little murky and confusing to judge by the public statements available. Your informed, straightforward on-the-scene point of view is needed and appreciated!
As I’ve noted elsewhere, the Filipino seafarers I’ve known have been a quality group overall. In one ship I sailed on many years ago, the Filipino Second Mate was the best deck officer on board save the Captain.
An awful lot of ships worldwide carry Filipino officers or crew, so their qualifications are an important issue – not only to those who serve on board with them, but also to those in ships meeting and passing them on the high seas.
Thanks for keeping us abreast of developments!