PH still on ‘White List’ – Marina, but 'insider' says Marina report to IMO did not respond to STCW requirement

PH still on ‘White List’ – Marina
RAFFY AYENG March 21, 2019 https://www.manilatimes.net/ph-still-on-white-list-marina/528830/

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) broke its silence and insisted on Wednesday that the Philippines is still on the “White List” of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

It was reacting to the exclusive report of The Manila Times that the country “might be excluded” from the list for failure to comply with global reporting standards.

The White List pertains to parties or countries confirmed by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) to have communicated information that demonstrates that full and complete effect is given to relevant provisions of the IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) during its sixth session this year.

Inclusion in the list means that a country complies with minimum qualification standards for masters, officers and watch personnel on seagoing merchant ships, under the revised 1978 International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) of the IMO, a United Nations agency.
Exclusion, on the othert hand, puts 400,000 jobs for Filipino seafarers at risk.

In a statement, Marina asserted that the Philippines is on the White List “based on the MSC-1/Circ. 1163/Rev. 10 dated May 23, 2016 and MSC. 1/Circ. 1164/Rev. 18 dated July 24, 2017 which contains the existing list.”

“In accordance with Regulation 1/7 of the STCW Convention, 1978, as amended, the IMO secretariat facilitates the preparation of the list of parties which have submitted a report demonstrating full and complete implementation of the relevant provisions of the convention. The IMO secretary general then submits the list for review and confirmation by the MSC and publishes it in the form of the aforementioned MSC Circulars,” the statement read.

A copy of a document obtained by the Times contains the minutes of a meeting of the IMO Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW) during its sixth session this year and indicates the Philippines “could be excluded from the IMO White List.
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The Philippines was included in the list for the third time when it was last released in 2011, but the revised list in Annex 2 of the IMO document obtained by The Manila Times did not include the Philippines.

The IMO document states: “This revised list excludes those parties that either have not submitted their subsequent reports or have submitted them outside the time periods prescribed so that they are still under consideration by the competent persons.”

“The IMO secretariat prepared a proposed revised list, which would be a living document for the continuing inclusion of parties or countries fulfilling their obligations under the said regulation of the convention, hence the IMO secretary general then submits the list for review and confirmation by the MSC and publishes it in the form of the aforementioned MSC circulars,” Marina said.

It added that it would attend the HTW session to participate in discussions and assert appropriate position regarding the proposed document.

“The Philippine government, through the Department of Transportation and Marina, assures the maritime industry stakeholders of its unwavering commitment in carrying out its obligation under the convention. With national legislation coupled by the necessary quality standard and IT (information technology) support systems in place,” Marina said.

It expressed confidence that the Philippines would continue to be on the White List.

Sacked Marina Administrator Marcial Amaro, in a phone interview, said he submitted the STCW compliance report in 2017. However, he admitted that there was no
scheduled audit in 2017 and that some IMO officials said the report should have been the last report on plans and compliance based on the amended STCW 1978 requirement.

A Marina insider, however, denied this, claiming the IMO secretariat did not forward the report to the IMO HTW Sub-committee because “the report did not respond to what was required by the convention.”