Some brickbats were thrown at us for our commentary last week on the Philippines’ manning, training and crew certification system (‘Inside the Filipino seafarer factory‘). One reader even said we had a low regard for Filipinos. That kind of obtuse comment misses the whole point of the article – that not all’s well with the seafarer factory and a major housecleaning is in order. Now comes the European Commission (EC) poised to withdraw recognition of STCW certificates issued by the Philippines unless a number of outstanding deficiencies in the system are remedied. We feel vindicated.
The Philippine authorities were served notice on the EC plan on 5th May. The country has until 31st August this year to inform the Commission about the measures taken to address the shortcomings – issues in the functioning of the maritime administration, insufficient quality procedures, insufficient monitoring of schools, inaccurate approval and review of courses, the level and quality of training, the poor quality of inspection of maritime education and training institutes and insufficient qualifications of instructors and assessors. Those flaws in the system were identified by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) during inspections in 2006 and 2010.
It’s a matter not to be taken lightly. In November 2010 the EC stopped recognising STCW certificates issued by Georgia to its seafarers – the first time it lowered the boom on a crew-supplying country. It would be naive for anyone to think the EC will treat the Philippines with kid gloves just because the Filipinos comprise, according to one estimate, 47% of the European Union’s non-EU supply of seafarers. The Europeans mean business. ~Barista Uno
I am working in the maritime industry in Manila and I have been following comments on this. Yes there are many schools here in the Philippines who do not met the standard, but it must be said that the fault is all the way back to high schools where the pupils do not learn simple mathematics and conversion tables, this again they drag further up in their college which shall teach them to become deck or engine officers. We have done some test on our cadets and it shows that they have lack of education in just this. Also I would say that for deck crew also are lack of training of so simple as rules of the road, IALA etc. I would not say that all schools are the same, but the level of teaching must come up, that’s why so many course centers are growing up, just to complete what the schools do not teach them. To get our seafarers up in standard we need to send to send them for assessment with follow up courses. Teachers in these course centers is experienced senior management officers and the standard in many of this training centers are on a high standard. It is not just to produce a lot of seafarers it should also be quality.
These comments point to only one area of failure on the part of the Maritime Educational system in the country. We are not wanting in regulations as the STCW Code has been set as the guideline….it is in the implementation of the regulations that we fail miserably. Truth enough we have schools that have not complied with the standards all these years but the CHED (Commission on Higher Education) keeps on procrastinating on enforcing the standards. We have maritime schools owners who have observed the cutting of corners in the shipping companies and feel that they too can use the same ploy. We have a Technical Panel (sic) at the CHED which is composed of people who have vested interests. The same with the Maritime Training Council which runs the National Assessment Center without a proper assessment laboratory. We have a PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) whose integrity of examination has always been a big question… A shame that we do have some schools worth their salt but they are lumped together with the questionable ones are lumped together in the same hellhole. It is time that this government (na matuwid) should address this objectionable system of Maritime Education and and Maritime Transportation system in the country. What say you, President?
This reminds me of the battle to introduce computer-based exams due to the corruption at the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission). Only a loud outcry forced the issue. The deafening silence on this issue in the Philippine media and, indeed, the international maritime media, is worrying.
Alarm bells indeed with over 300,000 Philippino seafarers across the world. But we perhaps need to be more incisive. The problem with reports like these is that they throw a wrecking-ball into the WHOLE system and ignore the huge numbers of mature and competent seafarers who do legitimately gain STCW qualifications.
It gives unwarranted ammunition to those on the right who may use this to further their own xenophobic and protectionist agenda. The criticism of the teaching, testing and systems will translate (if we’re not careful) into a criticism of the seafarer him or herself. That will be wrong.
Also, it does nothing for the self-esteem and confidence of the organisations and individuals in the Philippines who strive for excellence with every fibre of their being. In my view, they deserve support, not a negative one-size-fits-all nationwide criticism.
To declare my own interest: I facilitate leadership development programmes in Manila, mainly with junior deck and engineer officers. They present a range of cognitive skills and, in the main, their numeracy, linguistic and literacy skills are entirely adequate for our purpose (although I don’t test these specifically). Some of the young men (and there are only males in the groups I facilitate) are outstanding in their appreciation of the task they have to do.
In short, they present the same sort of profile I would expect anywhere I’ve worked.
I have not observed them on their ships so cannot be certain that their confidence and ability transfer from classroom to the ship – but reports from their companies appear largely positive.
There are, of course, cultural issues surrounding undue compliance etc – but these issues are discussed in an open and adult fashion. Delegates are challenged and asked to face up to these issues and – crucially – work to devise personal strategies to cope and manage the situations they come across.
Countries and companies who hire Phillipino staff perhaps need to invest in stronger (and specific) selection procedures, ascertain, inspect and audit the individual schools and colleges, induct the new crew with effective programmes, support them during those first few vital weeks and months and, above all, follow the example of the (many, many) reputable shipping and ship management companies in the Philippines who take an interest and already do this.
All this takes time, effort and resource. Some companies have been doing this by the bucket-load for years. There may be others (?)who need to remind themselves why they source from the Philippines in the first place…and it could be time to start putting something back into the system that supplies so many of their crew.
best regards
Chris Haughton
Chris, what you’re saying is exactly what I was told after I did the Lloyds List exposes on corruption in the PRC: “What you’re saying is true but you mustn’t say it”.
Before computerised exams were introduced, in part because of that expose, the ‘pass’ rate was 95 per cent. That dropped to 12.5 per cent when fraud-free computerised examinations were introduced. That is a serious safety issue.
In this instance, Filipino seafarers are being cheated and exploited hand over fist. They need our support, and the best way we can give them that support is by pressuring the power that be to bring seafarer training up to spec.
If we do not do so then we have failed, indeed, those seafarers to the odious exploiters.
Mr Couttie,
It’s amazing how some readers could miss the point of our two blog posts about the seafarer factory: that some things are not quite right in the present system and Filipino seafarers as a result are being, to use your phrase, ‘cheated and exploited hand over fist.’ Thanks very much for bringing it to the fore.
The fact is that self-reflection is alien to many Filipinos. More so in Manila’s manning and training community, which remains hobbled by parochialism. That is why some folks cannot stand what they see in the mirror when it is held up to them. Our articles about the seafarer factory are precisely that – a mirror.
I should say that alternative human resources like Turkey should be taken into consideration. Turkey has a great investment on human and there has been opened a lot of schools at the last decade. There are great opportunities in terms of manning and training. We have a system of training and assessment approved by IMO and EMSA. For further details you can contact me.
Do remember that the industry was happy to put up with the problems but imposed a ‘glass ceiling’ that limited opportunities for Filipinos to get into senior positions. Indeed, for many years the industry gave special treatment to Filipinos, hired experts to tell them how to treat Filipinos, remember Tomas Andres’ books? There is no equivalent about Indian, Chinese or Ukrainian seafarers. Why do Filipinos deserve special treatment?
Then the industry said “we’ll take away the glass ceiling, but no more special treatment. Filipino seafarer training must come to the same standard that everyone else has to”.
Do remember that the Filipino students are the ones paying to get their STCW cert in the hope of feeding their families and doing something for their communities (Some of which actually pay the student’s fees in the hope that the income will uplift the community economy). They are the ones being cheated.
Anyone who accuses you of damaging the industry by raising big red flags really doesn’t get it – the times are gone when the Philippines had the industry over a barrel. Some companies are even hiring former Somali pirates.
Those who really care about Pinoy seafarers will applaud you. The rest? Well, they can, and will, move their business to Kenya, Cambodia, Turkey, Bulgaria, China.
The Philippines is no longer the only game in town.
I’m waiting for Chris Haughton to justify his position with a bit more enlightenment.
Or maybe he hasn’t been in the country long enough
1. dont be too emotional
2. face the problem or issue or correct the deficiencies or suggest
3. let us not generalized the entire philippine maritime industry
4. there are training centers and schools working hard devotedly to promote quality not quantity.
Not China. China is running short of seamen.
I ought to expand that remark – there is an actual shortage of junior officers in China and none too many in other ranks either – by way of example Cosco is putting through an 80% (that’s eight zero per cent) pay rise across all ranks.
This is known as bolting the stable door after the horse has bolted. But China is moving beyond the level of GDP per head where seagoing is an attractive career.
But that does not solve the Philippines’ problem.
Seriously, do CHED, the PRC and the MTC WANT this one solved?
I respectfully suggest that many of their staff do not – they will be very happy when EMSA takes matters into its own hands and imposes a “white list” of EMSA accredited training organisations. This will save the staff at the three institutions I have listed from having to carry out the disagreeable and perhaps even dangerous task of actually failing substandard colleges and training centres.
They can just hold up their hands, shrug, blame the wicked foreigners for anti-Pinoy xenophobia and carry on, without having to face the principals of a single training establishment and use the Philippines’ least favourite word – “No!”
In a country which is about to give its hated dictator a heroes’ funeral, just because no-one will say “no” to the Marcos family, that is what you must expect.
Well said, Andrew….you do hit the nail on the head….sad but true.
when the maritime industry was check out for its deficiencies…it was not actually the entire maritime industry but portions of it. however, the negative result injected to philippines seafarers may seem to ruin the entire maritime industry.
let us not forget that it should check the strong institutions mentioned above who are entrusted to mold a better, competent and competitive seafarers.
the question here is…who received the “NOTICE” from the european maritime commission or EC? why it is not being forwarded to those who are involved? the alarming notince was only featured in internet or here.
anyway, it’s a good call to everyone. the bureaucracy is still on the steps of fighting the wave of corruption: from the fixer to those who are on top of this business.
CHED is now imposing moratorium to different courses…i think maritime courses is about to be posted. CHED must frequently intensify their move to produce quality seafarers, not quantity. To visit and inspect maritime schools. Who among these maritime tertiary institutions are producing tough and competent applicants.
PRC is developing its own system…and uprading some of its policies. despite their lapses before concerning maritime and other fields as well…
MTC has revised and upgraded the policies and procedures regarding documentary requirements, administrative requirements, assessment guidelines, strict imposing of resolutions and circulars and checking all accredited training providers, instructors, assessors and other related matters. however, due to few qualified staff/inspectors they could not purely check all…but implementing strict policies.
To produce a tough, competent and competitive seafarers…
1. it must start on their first move to be a seaman… the maritime tertiary/college institution…who among these are top producers of qualified/board passers seamen…… maritime schools must stop fooling these trainees who wished to lift up their lives and feed their families one day. give them quality education, upgrade ur system, upgrade the equipments, regular seminars for all those involve in molding the lives of these young futute seamen…
2. assessment must be intensified and must have regular upgradal of system
3. training providers/manning agencies/shipping agencies who are accreditted by MTC must support the move to clear all those bad issues imposed to philippine maritime agency
4. training providers/manning agencies/shipping agencies to continually build a strong trainings, clear values, upgrade its own system. to impose MTC memorandum….
more issues to comment…thank u for the reactions, updates and reading my item…God bless us all!
I have read so many comments about this matter and my own comments may create comments because I am Filipino and a seaman as well.
1) There are problems in the whole maritime industry in the Philippines and they are randomly coordinated to create a bigger problem. Unfortunately, the government officials who are supposed to take care of this matter depleted their time on “other” matters than solving these problems.
2) Educational systems, well there are lots to be done and lots to be explained. Students will always be as good as the teachers. Who were our instructors before? Stoic, selfish old sea dogs who taught their disciples – knowledge and arrogance were synonymous.
3) I do agree Math and Science are essentials but English and Logic will be compulsory. I have been in this business for a long time and the line drawn (between) Filipino senior officers and Euro/Indian Officers is logic and reporting. That’s why a lot of Indians and Europeans went into shipmanagement after seafaring jobs.
4) Being “brown-skinned” has been a contributing factor. When Filipinos committed mistakes, great media coverage will happen on that mistake but when they died, they’re not even mentioned in a meeting at the IMO snacks office. When Americans and Europeans died, SOLAS, ISM, ISPS were born.
We need help and support. Chris is correct. We need to be pushed at times but we need also fair treatment!
Unfortunately, fairness is something variable to other people.
Very interesting post. Thank you for sharing.
Capt Pelibert N. Sanchez
I, too, am a Filipino and a seafarer as well. Reflecting on the “deficiencies” of our seafarers as evidenced in various local and international assessments of our system (EMSA for one), there is a concoction of various factors, from the grassroots – the Philippine Educational system – to perhaps lackluster efforts of other concerned agencies regulating seafarer’s competence – PRC, MTC, TESDA, CHED, you name it. A few mentioned inadequacy in our maritime students’ (and eventual deck/engine officers) educational basics of mathematics, science, English, logic, among others. While this is true, shipping companies should also look into tailor-made, focused training in the form of in-house courses specifically targeted at the Achilles heel of their own circle of seamen. Notably, every shipping Principal has its own training requirements to suit its own system (vessel type, trade, onboard systems) and requiring their seamen to undergo “generic” training may have minimal impact.
My present company, for instance, uses Linux as the only O.S. for one of their fleets. Needless to say, their crew must learn Linux from square one, unless they have Linux to run their PCs at home (then no problem. unfortunately, most of us Filipinos may have been raised on Windows, right?). So the company trains their seamen on Linux. Problem solved. But then, the applications must be learned as well. It is imperative that petty officers know inventory systems, PMS (planned maintenance system) and stores and spares requisitions. And these are either done on a spreadsheet or a word-processor. Then literacy on these particular applications will also be a keen factor in improving job performance. And this is true for all ranks.
I’d say that another contributing factor is perhaps lack of focused training. Have a nice day everyone 😉
SHORTAGE OF FILIPINO SHIP OFFICERS IS HAPPENING NOW.