by Barista Uno | Apr 27, 2012 | Manning and Training
We know for a fact that some manning agents in Manila and their principals are wringing their hands. Will the EU really ban Filipino seafarers? The answer depends on a prior question: how confident is the European Commission (EC) that the Philippine authorities can supervise maritime schools and training centres and ensure their compliance with the STCW standards? It’s all about Quality Control, which, unfortunately, isn’t the strongest department in the Filipino seafarer factory. (more…)
by Barista Uno | Apr 11, 2012 | Manning and Training
The European Commission may decide this July on the question of banning Filipino seafarers from working on board EU-registered ships. Although it’s down to the wire for Manila, we’re not about to lose sleep over the matter. And it’s not because we believe, like the rest of the local crowd, that Filipino seafarers are indispensable to the world’s shipowners. We have better reasons for not worrying. (more…)
by Barista Uno | Nov 29, 2011 | Manning and Training
In late August of this year, Philippine Labour Secretary Rosalinda Dimapilis-Baldoz, who also heads the Maritime Training Council, wrote the European Commission (EC) to detail the steps taken by Manila to address the STCW-related deficiencies identified earlier in the EMSA (European Maritime Safety Agency) Report on the Philippines. The communication was sent through diplomatic channels just before the 31st August 2011 deadline given by the EC. Like the EMSA report, this document was not made public. This has led to a situation which reminds us of the famous parable of the blind men and an elephant – folks giving all sort of answers as to what the elephant is like. (more…)
by Barista Uno | Jun 17, 2011 | Manning and Training
The EU threat to stop recognising STCW certificates issued by the Philippines could be the equivalent of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant meltdown in March – with possible dire consequences for Filipino seafarers and the local crewing sector. So why is the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) report, which gave rise to the threat, being treated as some kind of state secret in Manila? Outside of a limited circle, little was known of the report and the EU plan itself until Marine Café Blog put the whole thing in the glare of daylight (‘Fire alarm at the Filipino seafarer factory‘). (more…)
