The final Philippines audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) is all over. But not the misconceptions and fallacies, which have been spreading by word of mouth, the social media and the maritime press. We hope that this article will lay them to rest. Mistaken beliefs and erroneous news reporting hardly serve the interest of the local MET (maritime education and training) establishment – or that of the nation and its seafarers. (more…)
Plenty of speculation as well as misinformation have attended EMSA’s (European Maritime Safety Agency) ongoing final audit of the Philippines and the threat of an EU ban on Filipino seafarers. So we’re really pleased and honoured to be interviewed by SeaShipNews, part of Singapore-based Asia Shipping Media (ASM). The article, entitled ‘The reality behind EMSA’s audit of Philippine crew institutions,’ can be (more…)
No one wants it to happen, and few believe that it will. But what if the European Commission decides to withdraw recognition of Philippine crew certificates? Clearly, a de facto EU ban on Filipino seafarers will be bad for the country. What is not so clear is the potential short-term impact. The Philippine authorities say 80,000 Filipino shipboard jobs would be lost, a statement that has been swallowed hook, line and sinker by the local and international press. (more…)
Nobody need lose sleep over the final audit by the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) in October. In our blog post of 23rd June, we cited three reasons for not expecting the EU to derecognise Philippine crew certificates. All will be pleased, of course – not least the EU shipowners, who cannot, realistically, do without Filipino seafarers. But should anyone break out the champagne? (more…)
It’s best to get it straight from the horse’s mouth. So we’ve added to our Downloads section a copy of the European Commission communique to EU member states dated 26th November 2012. The document, which prompted our commentary of 7th December, sums up the remaining deficiencies in the Philippines’ maritime education and training (MET) system and STCW administration. It should also give our readers some idea of what to expect when the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) conducts its next – and presumably last – inspection in the country sometime in 2013. Please look for the file name “European Commission on Philippine STCW deficiencies (2012)”.
