Manning sector braces for negative EMSA report

Manning sector braces for negative EMSA report
Carmela I. Huelar December 1, 2021 https://www.manilatimes.net/2021/12/01/business/maritime/manning-sector-...

This development could trigger the withdrawal of recognition of Philippine-issued STCW certificates to Filipino seafarers and, eventually, in the ban of Filipino seafarers from serving on ships flagged in European Union member countries.

A negative report from the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has been haunting the Philippine manning community for some years now.

Many expect the official EMSA report on its audit conducted in February-March 2020 of the country's compliance with the 1978 Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention, as amended, will be issued anytime soon.

The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) made public that it is expecting an unfavorable report, yet Administrator VAdm Robert Empedrad expressed confidence the country would be able to surmount the challenges posed by EMSA during the recently concluded weeklong CrewConnect Global. His adverse expectation was based on the initial findings on EMSA's last audit.

He recalled: "EMSA visited the country eight times since 2006 and, in March 2020, they went back just to verify our compliance and decide immediately after the audit."

The February-March 2020 audit was declared to be EMSA's last.

"But they found out that there were more findings in the last audit (than the previous audit)," the Administrator hastened to add. Before the staging of the virtual international conference, there were already talks within industry circles that EMSA would be issuing a negative report; meaning, it found the country not compliant with the Convention.

This development could trigger the withdrawal of recognition of Philippine-issued STCW certificates to Filipino seafarers and, eventually, in the ban of Filipino seafarers from serving on ships flagged in European Union member countries. When asked by CrewConnect host, Philippine Transmarine Carriers (PTC) Chief Executive Officer Gerardo Borromeo to shed light on these talks, VAdm Empedrad readily admitted that Marina had not been furnished with a copy of the long-overdue official EMSA report. The maritime administration is expecting it since late last year.

"We have yet to receive the assessment report of the European committee," the Marina Administrator announced. He however quickly concluded: "The European committee, regardless whether we substantially address the issues or not, will issue a negative report. They will because they did not require Marina to submit our corrective action."

Nonetheless, VAdm Empedrad exuded optimism during the CrewConnect session dedicated to developments in maritime education and training in the Philippines. "They will decide without the corrective action of the Maritime Industry Authority; then, they will give us two months to submit our corrective action plan and, eventually, the final decision will be made by the Committee on Safe Seas. It will decide based on whether or not we can address (the findings) based on our strategic action plan," he pointed out. The Administrator is referring to the Committee on Safe Seas and the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (COSS).

"I think based on the assessment of stakeholders, they're happy with what we have done. I believe that the Committee on Safe Sea would eventually decide in favor of the Filipino seafarers. With all my heart, I am confident that the Safety of Sea would overturn the decision." His optimism stemmed from Marina's recent initiatives. Administrator Empedrad shared some of the steps it took in addressing the EMSA findings.

"One of the problems is Marina did not involve the stakeholders in the past. The stakeholders are asking Marina to involve them in addressing the EMSA issues; so we open the findings to stakeholders and conducted two workshops to address the findings." Marina presented to them its strategic corrective action plan and asked them if they want to add something to address the EMSA issues.

"We have integrated the inputs and advise of the stakeholders. Now we're coming out with a comprehensive primer, a strategic action plan, which has not been done before. And this is a product not only of Marina but the entire industry."